Plastination in anatomy: Advancing cadaveric preservation and transforming medical education: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Anatomy remains a cornerstone of medical and allied health education, necessitating effective and innovative preservation techniques to optimize teaching and learning. Traditional cadaver preservation methods, particularly formalin-based embalming, present limitations such as toxic exposure, unpleasant odors, tissue distortion, and restricted long-term durability. Plastination, pioneered by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, represents a revolutionary advancement in anatomical preservation by replacing biological fluids with curable polymers to produce dry, odorless, non-toxic, and long-lasting specimens.This review provides a comprehensive overview of plastination, including its historical development, principles, procedural steps, types, educational and research applications, advantages over conventional preservation, ethical concerns, limitations, and emerging technological advancements. Plastination has significantly enhanced anatomical education by enabling high-quality specimen handling, three-dimensional visualization, sectional anatomy learning, and long-term specimen conservation. Despite challenges related to cost, technical expertise, and ethical considerations, plastination continues to evolve as a transformative tool in modern medical education and anatomical sciences.