Plastination of the posterior wall of trunk, spinal cord and medulla oblongata by injection of coloured polymer into arteries

Teaching human anatomy, at any level, relies not only on the expertise of a tutor but also on the availability and use of a good teaching aid. Plastination materials are unique as teaching aid to exhibiting accurate anatomical structures . This meterials easily are stored and handled by students. The aim of the current study was to prepare plastinated specimen of posterior wall of trunk, spinal cord and medulla oblongata by injecting coloured polymer into arteries. Material &

The study was performed on a human body after fixation of the cadaver .The coloured polymer was prepared by mixing red color paste with polyester cobalt (accelerator) and then peroxide (hardening material) was added to it. This mixtume was injected into the body through femoral artery by the naso-gastric catheter using a hydrolic pump. After few days when the coloured polymer was dried up, dissection (Posterior trunk, spinal cord and medulla oblongata), dehydration, defatization and impregnation of the body was carried out. Finally the prepared plastinated specimen was compared with standard plastinated model.

The plastinated specimen was dry , non-toxic and without noxious fumes . Spinal cord and medulla oblongata have showed a normal anatomical structure . The flexibility elasticity and traction was compared with the standard specimen. P-value was 0.05 and the standard error 382±0.4600 .The Coloured polymers inside the arteries and vein were easy to detect.

According to the results of the current study, there was no significant differences (P<0.05) . The plastinated specimens prepared by injecting coloured polymer into the arteries, provided and excellent non-toxic specimen with no noxious fumes of formalin and with good durability and safety features.