The longitudinal plane, also called the sagittal plane in some contexts, is one of the standard scanning orientations used in ultrasound. When a sonographer places the transducer along the length of a structure, the resulting image shows a long-axis cross section. For example, a longitudinal view of the kidney displays it from top to bottom, revealing its full length and allowing measurement of its longest dimension. Longitudinal scanning is paired with transverse (short-axis) scanning to provide a complete assessment of any structure. Properly identifying and documenting both planes is fundamental to thorough sonographic technique.
Sonography Term