Plastination preserves the anatomy of humans and animals by replacing water and fat with plastic. The process involves embalming, freezing, and immersing the body in a liquid polymer. Developed by Dr. Gunther von Hagens, plastination is used in medical labs, galleries, and exhibitions like Body Worlds. Plastination is a valuable tool for educators, providing realistic and durable specimens for study.
Plastination is a scientific process used to preserve the anatomy of a human or animal. In plastination, the water and fat inside the body are replaced by plastic, which makes the corpse virtually incapable of rotting. It is a way to maintain and preserve the shape and appearance of the body and internal organs, which can be very valuable to medical students, among others.
In the plastination process, the body is first embalmed in formaldehyde, then placed in a freezing solution, acetone, which replaces the water in the cells. The body is then immersed in a pool of liquid polymer, such as silicone rubber or polyester. The acetone inside the body starts to boil and evaporate and is replaced by the plastic solution. The plastic can then be cured with UV light, gas or heat, which will harden the body into a fixed shape.
The plastination technique was developed by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1978, who was awarded three separate patents for his work with plastination. Initially, plastination was primarily used in medical laboratories and galleries so that students could have excellent visual examples of the anatomy of the human body. However, in 1993, von Hagens founded the Plastination Institute in Heidelberg, Germany. With the institute he held a public exhibition in Japan of bodies that had undergone plastination. More than three million people attended the event.
This event was a prelude to von Hagens’ next show, Body Worlds. In the Body Worlds exhibit, carefully preserved skinless corpses are displayed in various positions, many of them posed as if engaged in ordinary activities. While these plastination models may seem morbid to some, many people find the exhibit to be a wonderful opportunity to study the inside of the human body.
Today plastination is a common technique and a great tool for educators. Middle and high school students are often shown animal organs that have undergone the plastination process; plastination is also commonly used on animal specimens for veterinary schools. Compared to the “plastic coating” method of the past, specimens that have undergone plastination are much more realistic and durable. Since von Hagens’ invention, it has proved to be an invaluable technique for education and conservation.
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