Axes of Rotation — Frontal (Transverse), Sagittal and Longitudinal

This lesson covers the three axes of rotation as required by the Edexcel GCSE PE specification (1PE0). You need to know the three axes, how they relate to the three planes of movement, and how to apply them to sporting actions. Axes and planes are always examined together on Component 1.

What Is an Axis of Rotation?

An axis of rotation is an imaginary line around which the body (or a body part) rotates. If a plane describes the direction of movement, the axis describes the line around which that movement spins.

Think of an axis as a skewer pushed through the body — the body rotates around that skewer.

There are three axes of rotation:

Axis	Direction Through the Body	Paired Plane
Frontal axis (also called transverse axis)	Runs from left to right through the body (like a horizontal bar through the hips)	Sagittal plane
Sagittal axis	Runs from front to back through the body (like an arrow through the belly)	Frontal plane
Longitudinal axis	Runs from top to bottom through the body (like a pole from head to feet)	Transverse plane

Exam Tip: A common Edexcel question asks you to name the axis around which a particular movement occurs. Remember: the axis is always perpendicular (at right angles) to the plane of movement.

The Three Axes in Detail

1. Frontal Axis (Transverse Axis)

The frontal axis runs from left to right through the body, like a horizontal bar passing through the hips.

graph LR
    L["Left side<br>of body"] -->|"Frontal axis<br>(runs left to right)"| R["Right side<br>of body"]
    style L fill:#3498db,color:#fff
    style R fill:#3498db,color:#fff

Paired with: The sagittal plane (forward/backward movements).
Movement around this axis: The body or a body part rotates forwards or backwards around the left-to-right axis.

Sporting Example	Explanation
Front somersault	The gymnast rotates forwards around the frontal axis (the axis runs through the hips, left to right)
Back somersault	The gymnast rotates backwards around the same axis
Running (leg swing)	The leg swings forwards and backwards around the frontal axis at the hip
Bicep curl	The forearm rotates around the frontal axis at the elbow

2. Sagittal Axis

The sagittal axis runs from front to back through the body, like an arrow entering through the belly button and exiting through the spine.

graph LR
    F["Front<br>of body"] -->|"Sagittal axis<br>(runs front to back)"| B["Back<br>of body"]
    style F fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff
    style B fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff

Paired with: The frontal plane (side-to-side movements).
Movement around this axis: The body or a body part rotates sideways around the front-to-back axis.

Sporting Example	Explanation
Cartwheel	The gymnast rotates sideways around the sagittal axis
Star jump	The arms and legs abduct and adduct, rotating around the sagittal axis at the shoulders and hips
Goalkeeper diving sideways	The body moves sideways around the sagittal axis

3. Longitudinal Axis

The longitudinal axis runs from top to bottom through the body, like a vertical pole from the top of the head to the feet.

Axes of Rotation