Technical Graphics - Plane Figures - The Ellipse

Parts of an Ellipse

The Major Axis, which is also called the Transverse Axis, is the largest diameter of the Ellipse.

The Minor Axis, which is also called the Conjugate Axis, is the shortest diameter of the Ellipse.

The Vertices are the points at the ends of the Major Axis.

The Focal Points are special points on the Major Axis, and the sum of the distances from any point on the curve of the Ellipse back to the Focal Points is always equal.