‘剖面’ (pōu miàn) literally combines 剖 (pōu), meaning ‘to cut open’ or ‘to dissect’, and 面 (miàn), meaning ‘surface’ or ‘plane’. Together, it refers to a cross-section — the flat surface exposed when an object is cut straight through, revealing its internal structure. This term is widely used in scientific, medical, and technical contexts, especially when analyzing layered or three-dimensional structures.

In biology and veterinary science, ‘剖面’ often describes anatomical cross-sections — for example, a horizontal slice through a mammal’s brain or a vertical section of a bird’s wing bone. It’s also common in geology (rock strata), engineering (material layers), and even botany (tree trunk sections). Unlike the more general term ‘切面’ (qiē miàn), ‘剖面’ emphasizes intentional, precise cutting to expose internal organization — often for study or diagnosis.