Final answer:
An MRI scanner moves from side to side in the frontal plane and from top to bottom in the sagittal plane.
Step-by-step explanation:
The direction in which the plate moves during the scanning phase of an MRI scanner depends on the plane of the images being produced. In the frontal plane, the scanner would move from side to side, while in the sagittal plane, the scanner would move from top to bottom. For example, if you're getting an MRI of your brain, the scanner would move side to side to produce sequential images of the brain in the frontal plane, and top to bottom to produce sequential images in the sagittal plane.