Plastination Laboratory Office of Medical Education

Plastination of Anatomical Materials

Plastination is a process of preserving organic material. Water and fat in tissue are replaced with silicone in a process which, for most specimens, takes about one month. Preserved tissue is first dissected and then dehydrated with acetone. It is immersed in a silicone bath under vacuum until the replacement of acetone is completed. After plastination, the resulting tissue is safe to handle (i.e., toxic fixatives are eliminated), the tissue has no odor and it is extremely durable. Thus, the anatomical specimens are safer to use, more pleasant to use, and are much more durable and have a much longer shelf life. View selected examples of plastinated specimens.

Plastinated specimens can be repeatedly handled by students without deterioration and specimens can be stored as would any inert object. The plastination facility has processed a number of specimens that are now routinely used to great benefit in teaching gross anatomy and neuroanatomy. In addition, because of the durability and safety of plastinated specimens, they may be utilized in a much broader range of educational settings. For example, specimens of normal lung and lung tissue from smokers and victims of smoking-related cancer have been used in a number of elementary, middle and high schools across the state to promote the prevention of smoking. The goal of the plastination facility is to enhance the teaching resources of the Office of Medical Education and to provide plastination services to other departments and institutions.

The Plastination Laboratory is a cost-for-service unit that produces excellent human specimens, with some very intricate dissections to users inside and outside the University. Presently the facility is equipped to do both standard silicone impregnation and epoxy sheet plastination. Users are encouraged to provide the lab with their own prepared specimens, but, where this is not possible, our Anatomical Donations Program can provide specimens for users to dissect and return to the laboratory for finishing. A thorough description of plastination and the advantages of using plastinated specimens in teaching and research is available from the excellent review article in Anat. Embryol. 175:411-421, 1987. For more information, including a price list, please contact Dr. Ameed Raoof , Division of Anatomical Sciences, 3767 Medical Science II, University of Michigan Medical School, 48109-0608. You may also submit a form requesting plastination services.

The Plastination Laboratory with help from Dow Corning, has been reaching out into the community of Michigan Secondary Schools to provide partially dissected plastinated frogs. About 100 plastinated frogs were distributed to high schools throughout Michigan in this joint venture. Dr. Bruce Carlson spearheaded this effort to get plastinated frogs in the schools as a replacement for either live or formaldehyde preserved frogs because of his strong desire to save the wild frog population which is in serious decline due to harvesting for biology classes. The frogs we are using are raised on frog farms near Ann Arbor and are ideally suited to the plastination process. We have also begun plastination of other animal tissue, such as deer hearts and sheep brains, which we hope will be useful to the high school biology classes.

Plastinated specimens have been enthusiastically received both by our faculty and students mainly because they present many distinct advantages over traditionally preserved specimens. These include:1) excellent quality and durability 2) a reduction in toxic, noxious fumes and 3) greater flexibility of use both inside and outside of the classroom, including their ability to interface with computer software. In addition plastinated specimens prepared to demonstrate difficult structures and dissection areas have proved to be excellent review and testing materials.

The Plastination Laboratory will offer two opportunities to visit the facility during the year. Displays are presented to interested groups on a pre-arranged basis. The tentative times of the open labs are late October and early April. Call (734) 615-2597 for more information.

 

Articles and Publications:
Educational Mission:
Community Outreach:
Plastinated Specimen Visual Gallery

	Plastination Services: View and print a form for requesting plastination services. Submit a web form for requesting plastination services. Contact us.

Back to the Division of Anatomical Sciences

Last updated on Friday, 17-Feb-2006 12:26:14 EST. Please send suggestions or comments to AnatomyWebmaster.