Transpyloric plane

Transpyloric plane
Surface lines of the front of the thorax and abdomen. (Transpyloric is top horizontal line.)
Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for duodenum, pancreas, and kidneys.
Latin	planum transpyloricum
Gray's	subject #286 1315

An upper transverse line, the transpyloric is located halfway between the jugular notch and the upper border of the symphysis pubis; this indicates the margin of the transpyloric plane, which in most cases cuts through the pylorus, the tips of the ninth costal cartilages and the lower border of the first lumbar vertebra.

Structures crossed

The transpyloric plane is clinically notable because it passes through several important abdominal structures. These include:

• lumbar vertebra 1^[1] and hence passes just before the end of the spinal cord in adults.
• the fundus of the gallbladder
• the neck of the pancreas
• the pancreatic body^[2]
• the origins of the superior mesenteric artery from the aorta^[2] and portal vein^[2]
• the left and right colic flexure ^[2]
• the left hilum of the kidney ^[2]
• the right hilum of the kidney ^[2]
• the root of the transverse mesocolon
• duodenojejunal flexure ^[2]
• the 2nd part of the duodenum
• the upper part of conus medullaris^[3]
• the spleen

Images

Front view of the thoracic and abdominal viscera. a. Median plane. b. Lateral planes. c. Trans tubercular plane. d. Subcostal plane. e. Transpyloric plane.

Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for arteries and inguinal canal.

See also

• Transtubercular plane

References

External links

• Transpyloric+plane at eMedicine Dictionary
• http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/_/viewer.aspx?path=dorland&name=plane(2).jpg

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.

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