HISTORY

Dr. Gunther von Hagens, an Anatomist, started the idea of the preservation of specimens
embedded in plastics. He invented the form of preserving tissues, organs, and actual whole
bodies for public displays and medical purposes. His work as a scientific assistant at the
Anatomical Institute of Heidelberg University in 1977 made him realize that it is a struggle for
them to use a specimen that is easily decomposed. As to improve his research of preservation, he
started an experiment with a variety of plastics. The International Society for Plastination was
founded in 1986 and the Journal of the International Society for Plastination were published
after a year. It was 1993, when Dr. Hagens founded the Heidelberg-based Institute for
Plastination. In the year 1995, Dr. Von Hagens participated in an exhibit organized by the
Japanese Anatomical Society. His works of plastinated specimens are shown in the exhibit.
When he was about to die from an incurable disease, Dr. Hagens told his other co-Anatomists
that he wants his body to be exhibited as a whole human body specimen.

IMPORTANCE
Plastination is a vacuum process where fats and bodys water are replaced with plastic. It may be
considered as the best preservation method of all. All body organs, muscles, and body tissues can be
preserved through Plastination. With the help of Plastination, observing actual human anatomical parts is
now possible. Detailed and transparent parts such as muscular, vascular, and interstitial muscle can be
exhibited with the help of this kind of preservation.
Most medical researches can be taught well with the actual human forms. Its potential value for medical
researchers are appreciated. For teachers and students like us, we appreciate more if we could see an
actual view of what we are about to study. By means of Plastination method, even transparent and thin
sections can be preserved and observed. Students can learn anatomical features and explore much more in
human anatomy. This preserved specimen is odorless and dry, and it will retain its natural structure. It is
much more easier to use these preserved specimens for research purposes than any other organic and
decaying organs.

Ethical issues
The main issue that can be acknowledged in plastination is the use of dead human bodies as a part of an
exhibit. This Art of showing and displaying preserved human bodies distract others attention. Being
exposed of real human organs and body part is what it makes the most controversial. Most of the bodies
that are used are not donated but came from those bodies in the hospitals or morgue that was unclaimed.
Some say that they are violating the rights of those bodies that are not originally donated.
According to James Buxton, the display of those bodies and plastinated corpse are immoral and
abhorrent. Expertise in human anatomy can strengthen but are we sure that this procedure is only used
for medical purposes. It is an advantage to have these plastinated specimens for medical purposes, but
it may also be used as an entertainment. A corpse can be touched, moved, seen in a public exhibit.

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