Abstract

Plastination is a process of preservation of anatomical specimens by a delicate method of forced impregnation with curable polymers like silicone, epoxy or polyester resins, with vast applications in medical fields of study. In this process, water and lipids in biological tissues are replaced by curable polymers (silicone, epoxy, polyester) which are hardened, resulting in dry, odorless and durable specimens. Today, after more than 30 years of its development, plastination is being applied in more than 400 departments of anatomy, pathology, forensic sciences and biology all over the world. The standard S10 silicone technique produces flexible, resilient and opaque specimens. After fixation and dehydration, the specimens are impregnated with silicone S10 and in the end the specimens are cured. The key element in plastination is the impregnation step and therefore depending on the polymer used the optical quality of the specimens differ. The S10 silicone technique is the most common technique used in plastination. It is used worldwide for beginners, but also for experimented plastinators. The S10 plastinated specimens can be easily stored at room temperature, are non-toxic and odorless. The S10 specimens can be successfully used, especially in teaching, as they are easy to be handled and display a realistic topography. Plastinated specimens are also used for displaying whole bodies, or body parts in exhibition.

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