Planes and axes in physical activity and sport | Physical education

Starter quiz

Which is the correct term for an axis?

direction of travel

line of rotation ✓

flat surface

movement at a joint
Which of the following is the correct description of the transverse axis?

runs vertically from head to toe

runs horizontally from left to right ✓

runs horizontally from front to back
The longitudinal axis runs through the body from head to ...

'toe' ✓
Which of the following images moves along the frontal plane and rotates around the frontal axis?
Which of the following images is correct for the frontal plane?
Match the plane of movement with the correct description.

sagittal plane

⇔

a flat surface which divides the body into left and right ✓

frontal plane

⇔

a flat surface which divides the body into front and back ✓

transverse plane

⇔

a flat surface which divides the body into top and bottom ✓

Exit quiz

Which plane of movement is paired with the transverse axis?

sagittal plane ✓

frontal plane

transverse plane
Which of the following is correct for a plane of movement?

line of rotation

movement takes place ✓

runs from head to toe

runs from side to side
Which is the following images demonstrates rotation around the longitudinal axis and movement along the transverse plane?
A somersault rotates around which axis and moves along which plane?

frontal axis, frontal plane

longitudinal axis, transverse plane

transverse axis, sagittal plane ✓
A cartwheel rotates around which axis and moves along which plane?

frontal axis, frontal plane ✓

longitudinal axis, transverse plane

transverse axis, sagittal plane
A figure skater completing a full spin rotates around the longitudinal axis moving along the ______ plane.

'transverse' ✓

Worksheet

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Presentation

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Video

Lesson Details

Key learning points

The body rotates around the transverse axis moving along the sagittal plane
The body rotates around the frontal axis moving along the frontal plane.
The body rotates around the longitudinal axis moving along in the transverse plane.

Common misconception

Any of the three planes can be paired with the three axes.

Planes and axes are always paired as: sagittal plane with the transverse axis, frontal plane with the frontal axis and transverse plane with the longitdinal axis.

Keywords

Transverse axis - runs horizontally from left to right
Longitudinal axis - runs vertically from head to toe
Frontal axis - runs horizontally from front to back
Plane - an imaginary flat surface running through the body along which movement takes place