History and development of plastination techniques.

Plastination was a game-changing invention for macroscopic anatomical preparation. The method yielded dry, odourless, tangible and durable specimens which allowed new exhibition and teaching set-ups and paved the way for sophisticated preparations and spectacular positioning of specimens. Despite the impact of the new method, there have been similar techniques in place before.

Ultra-thin sectioning and grinding of epoxy plastinated tissue.

With classical sheet plastination techniques such as E12, the level and thickness of the freeze-cut sections decide on what is visible in the final sheet plastinated sections. However, there are other plastination techniques available where we can look for specific anatomical structures through the thickness of the tissue. These techniques include sectioning and grinding of plastinated tissue blocks or thick slices.

Multiple polymer plastination: Combining different types of polymers in teaching and exhibition plastinates.

Vacuum forced tissue impregnation is the signature step of the plastination process. It requires polymers with a low vapour pressure, low viscosity and a long pot life. Plastination polymers are a compromise between these mandatory requirements on the one hand and various secondary demands such as specimen stability, resistance to UV light and defined light refraction index on the other hand.

Corrosion casting in anatomy: Visualizing the architecture of hollow structures and surface details.

Corrosion casting is the technique by which a solid, negative replica is created from a hollow anatomical structure and liberated from its surrounding tissues. For centuries, different types of hardening substances have been developed to create such casts, but nowadays, thermosetting polymers are mostly used as casting medium. Although the principle and initial set-up are relatively easy, producing high-quality casts that serve their intended purpose can be quite challenging.