BODY WORLDS The Art of Plastination ( English, Français)

Plastination was invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977 at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. It is a unique process that stops the decomposition of the dead body and produces solid, odorless and durable anatomical specimens for scientific and medical training. In principle Plastination is relatively simple: 1. Embalming and Anatomical Dissection: The first step of the process involves halting decay by pumping formalin into the body through the arteries. Formalin kills all bacteria and chemically stops the decay of tissue. Using dissection tools, the skin, fatty and connective tissues are removed in order to prepare the individual anatomical structures. 2. Removal of Body Fat and Water: In the first step, the body water and soluble fats are dissolved from the body by placing it into a solvent bath an acetone bath). 3. Forced Impregnation: This second exchange process is the central step in Plastination. During forced impregnation a reactive polymer, e. g., silicone rubber, replaces t