Final answer:
Serial sectioning is the process that allows for the analysis of complex structures by taking multiple sections along a specific plane, essential in fields like medical imaging, geology, and materials science.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process you are referring to is called serial sectioning, which allows for the analysis of complex structures by selecting a specific sectional plane and taking a series of sections at small intervals. For instance, in medicine, this technique can be applied using modern imaging devices that produce virtual sections or scans of a living body. Understanding the plane of a section, such as the transverse plane that separates upper and lower portions of the body, is essential for correct interpretation.
In other fields like geology or materials science, series of sections can reveal the internal structure of rocks or the stress distribution inside materials. Similarly, in crystallography, different planes within a crystal's geometry can be analyzed for their impact on X-ray diffraction patterns.