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 also known as Addison's Plane, is located halfway between the jugular notch and the upper border of the pubic symphysis; 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 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
• the origin of the superior mesenteric artery from the abdominal aorta and termination of the superior mesenteric vein at the hepatic portal vein
• the left and right colic flexure
• hilum of the kidney on the left
• upper pole of the kidney on the right
• the root of the transverse mesocolon
• duodenojejunal flexure
• the 1st part of the duodenum
• the upper part of conus medullaris
• the spleen
• the pylorus of the stomach which will lie at this level approximately 5 cm to the right of the midline.

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

External links

• Transpyloric plane of Addison | Medchrome
• 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 As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.