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.
Details
Latin	planum transpyloricum
Identifiers
Gray's	p.1315
Dorlands /Elsevier	p_22/12644663
Anatomical terminology

An upper transverse line also known as Addison's Plane, located halfway between the jugular notch and the upper border of the pubic symphysis. It is also said to lie roughly a hand's breadth beneath the xiphoid process of the human sternum. The plane in most cases cuts through the pylorus of the stomach, 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 end of the spinal cord
• the pancreatic body^[2]
• the origin of the superior mesenteric artery from the abdominal aorta^[2] and termination of the superior mesenteric vein at the hepatic portal vein^[2]
• the left and right colic flexure^[2]
• hilum of the kidney on the left^[2]
• hilum of the kidney on the right^[2]
• the root of the transverse mesocolon
• duodenojejunal flexure^[2]
• the 1st part of the duodenum
• the upper part of conus medullaris^[3]
• the spleen
• the pylorus of the stomach which will lie at this level approximately 5 cm to the right of the midline.
• cisterna chyli (which drains into the thoracic duct)

Images

• 

  Surface projections of the organs of the trunk, with transpyloric plane labeled at L1

• 

  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

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• Transpyloric plane of Addison | Medchrome
• ‹The template EMedicineDictionary is being considered for deletion.› Transpyloric+plane at eMedicine Dictionary
• http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/_/viewer.aspx?path=dorland&name=plane(2).jpg