Plastination

Dr Sadika Sharmin
Resident MS Anatomy
Phase B
BSMMU
Objectives

After completing the session the audience will be

able to-
 Define plastination.
 Discuss the process of plastination.
 Mention the polymer used in plastination.
 Mention the advantages & disadvantages of plastination.
 Plassein

Plastination
Plastination

Unique technique of tissue preservation in which

water and lipids in biological specimens are
replaced by a polymerisable resin which is then
subsequently hardened
 Invents plastination in1977 while
teaching at the Department
of Anesthesiology and
Emergency Medicine at
Heidelberg University, Germany

Dr. Gunther von Hagens

Specimens of Plastination

• Perishable biological specimens such as-

• Brain

• Heart

• Muscle

• Joint specimens

• Body slices

• Plants, insects and animals

Principle of plastination

Water Curable
& Fat polymer
 Types of plastination

Whole body/organ Luminal plastination Sheet plastination

plastination
 Process of Plastination

• The process consists of four main steps-

• Fixation or Tissue preparation

• Dehydration

• Forced impregnation

• Hardening (curing)
 Embalming
Decomposition is stopped using formaldehyde.

Fluids in
Tissues
Dissection Sawing
Posed specimens are dissected with forceps and scalpels. Bodies are cut in 3.5 mm slices while frozen

Fluid Removal
Acetone Frozen bodily fluids are replaced by acetone in a cold acetone bath.

Fat Removal
Soluble fat molecules are replaced by acetone in a warm acetone bath

Forced Impregnation
In a vacuum, acetone is extracted and gradually replaced with plastic.
Liquid Plastic

Positioning Casting slices

Each structure is brought into the proper position. Slices of tissue are laid between
a sheet of film and/or glass plates.
Solid Plastic

Gas Hardening Heat curing

Posed Specimen Plastinated Slices

Infused with silicone rubber Infused with exposy resin
Fixation or Tissue preparation
Dehydration
Dehydration (contd..)

DL POLYMER

DL
WATER

FAT

DEHYDRATION WITH MISCIBLE LIQUID (Acetone)

Forced impregnation (contd..)
Forced impregnation (contd..)
Forced impregnation
Positioning
Positioning (contd..)
Positioning (contd..)
Hardening (curing)
 TO
EASY &
E
STOR LE
D
HAN

DURABLE ADVANTAGES OF
PLASTINATED LIFE LIKE
SPECIMENS

Y TTOO T
S
EEAASYSPPOORRT
A NNS
NON-TOXIC & NON R
TTR A DRY & ODOURLESS
INFECTIOUS
Coronal & transverse slice of brain
Silicone plastinated kidney
Plastinated heart
Plastinated popliteal fossa
Embalmed heart Plastinated specimen
showing collapse from a fresh heart
of the lumina and showing preservation of
irregular valves the contours
of the vessel lumina
 Polymers used in plastination

1.Silicone (S10, S14, S15, S49): opaque and semi-flexible specimens

2.Epoxy resin (E12, E13, E20 plus): thin (25 mm), transparent and firm
body and organ slices

3.Polyester resin (E600, E700): semi transparent and firm brain slices
showing unique grey and white matter distinction

4.Epoxy-silicone copolymers (P40): thick, opaque body slices

THANK
YOU