What is the horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions called?

The horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions is known as the transverse plane. This plane runs parallel to the ground and is particularly significant in medical imaging and anatomical studies as it helps in visualizing sections of the body from a top-down perspective.

In contrast, the coronal plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections, while the sagittal plane divides the body into left and right parts. The midsagittal plane is a specific type of sagittal plane that runs exactly down the midline of the body, creating equal left and right halves. Thus, the transverse plane's role in understanding body orientation makes it the correct answer for this question.