Meanings
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1
adj
anatomy: relating to a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions
A sagittal section of the brain reveals structures along the body's front-to-back axis.
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2
adj
relating to the sagittal suture or a crest running lengthwise along the top of the skull
The adult male gorilla develops a prominent sagittal crest for the attachment of jaw muscles.
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3
adj
shaped like or associated with an arrow
The plant's sagittal leaves taper into backward-pointing lobes like an arrowhead.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Medieval Latin sagittalis, 'of an arrow,' from Latin sagitta, 'arrow,' + -alis. Anatomists applied the arrow image to the front-to-back suture on the skull and then to any parallel plane dividing the body into left and right portions.