What are the planes and axes of movement, and how do you use them to analyse a sporting action?
The three planes of movement (sagittal, frontal, transverse) and their axes (transverse, sagittal, vertical), and how to apply them to movements in sport.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on planes and axes, covering the three planes of movement (sagittal, frontal, transverse), the axis that pairs with each, the movements that occur in each plane, and how to analyse sporting actions such as a somersault or a cartwheel.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
WJEC wants you to name the three planes of movement, name the axis that pairs with each, and use them to analyse a sporting action.
What planes and axes are
There are three of each, and they pair up.
The three planes and their axes
| Plane | Divides the body into | Paired axis | Direction of movement | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sagittal | Left and right halves | Transverse axis | Forwards and backwards | Forward somersault, biceps curl, running |
| Frontal | Front and back halves | Sagittal axis | Side to side | Cartwheel, star jump, arm raised sideways |
| Transverse | Top and bottom halves | Vertical (longitudinal) axis | Rotation around the long axis | Ice-skater spin, full twist, discus turn |
The key rule: the axis runs at right angles (90 degrees) to the plane the movement happens in.
Picturing each plane
It helps to imagine each plane as a sheet of glass slicing through the body:
- the sagittal plane is a sheet running front to back down the middle, so the body splits into a left and a right side; movements that go forward or backward (running, a forward roll, bending the elbow) happen in this plane,
- the frontal plane is a sheet running side to side, so the body splits into a front and a back; movements that go out to the side (a star jump, raising the arm sideways, a cartwheel) happen in this plane,
- the transverse plane is a horizontal sheet, so the body splits into a top and a bottom; movements that rotate around the body's long axis (a spin, a twist, a discus turn) happen in this plane.
Linking planes to joint movements
The plane also tells you which joint movements are involved:
- flexion and extension happen in the sagittal plane (bending and straightening the elbow or knee),
- abduction and adduction happen in the frontal plane (moving a limb away from or towards the body),
- rotation happens in the transverse plane (turning a limb or the whole body around its long axis).
This connects movement analysis directly to the joint movement terms from the skeletal system topic.
Analysing a movement
To analyse an action, ask: which way is the body moving or rotating?
- forwards or backwards -> sagittal plane, transverse axis,
- sideways -> frontal plane, sagittal axis,
- turning around the long axis (spinning) -> transverse plane, vertical axis.
Why this matters
Planes and axes are part of movement analysis, used with lever systems to give a full biomechanical description of an action. They build on the joint movements from the skeletal system topic, because flexion and extension happen in the sagittal plane, abduction and adduction in the frontal plane, and rotation in the transverse plane.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC style3 marksName the three planes of movement and the axis that pairs with each.Show worked answer →
A 3-mark question: one mark for each correct plane and axis pairing.
The sagittal plane pairs with the transverse axis (used for forward and backward movements such as a somersault). The frontal plane pairs with the sagittal axis (used for side-to-side movements such as a cartwheel). The transverse plane pairs with the vertical (longitudinal) axis (used for rotation such as a spin or a full twist).
Markers reward each correct pairing. A common way to remember it is that the axis runs at right angles to the plane the movement happens in.
WJEC style4 marksAnalyse a forward somersault and a flat spin in terms of the plane and axis of movement, explaining your answer.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark question: two marks for each action (the plane and axis with a reason).
A forward somersault is a rotation forwards, so it takes place in the sagittal plane around the transverse axis. The transverse axis runs from side to side through the hips, and the body rotates forwards around it, which is why this plane and axis are used.
A flat spin (for example an ice skater spinning upright) is a rotation around the long axis of the body, so it takes place in the transverse plane around the vertical (longitudinal) axis, which runs from head to toe. Markers reward the correct plane and axis for each action plus a clear reason linked to the direction of rotation.
Related dot points
- The three classes of lever (first, second and third), the positions of the fulcrum, load and effort, examples in the body, and the meaning of mechanical advantage.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on lever systems, covering the three classes of lever, the arrangement of the fulcrum, load and effort in each, examples of each class in the human body, and what mechanical advantage means for movement.
- The use of sports technology in analysing and improving performance and in supporting officiating, and the advantages and disadvantages of using it.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on sports technology, covering how technology is used to analyse and improve a performer, how it supports match officials, and the advantages and disadvantages of using technology in sport.
- The functions of the skeletal system, the main bones and types of bone, the types of synovial joint, and the movements they allow at the joints used in sport.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on the skeletal system, covering the functions of the skeleton, the main bones, the types of synovial joint (ball and socket, hinge), the structure of a synovial joint, and the joint movements used in sporting actions.
- The major muscles of the body, how muscles work as antagonistic pairs, the types of muscle contraction (concentric, eccentric, isometric), and the types of muscle fibre.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on the muscular system, covering the major muscles, how muscles work as antagonistic pairs (agonist and antagonist), the types of muscle contraction (concentric, eccentric and isometric) and the two types of muscle fibre.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Physical Education specification (from 2016) — WJEC (2016)