Entire Collection
Plastinated Expanded Human Body
Specifications
Plastinated Expanded Human Body
Category
Health and Medicine
Classification
CHENHALL - Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology - Biological T&E - Biospecimen
Physical Characteristics
Object Description: Pieces of brownish-red muscle, yellow bones, and pale-colored human organs in the shape of the human body connected with wiring to appear as if they are moving away from each other.
Measurements: Object:
Height: 8 ft 2 in, Width: 39 in, Depth: 39 in
Credit
Museum Purchase, 2007.3.9
Display Status
On Exhibit
Plastinated Expanded Human Body
About: Plastinated Expanded Human Body
About: Plastinated Expanded Human Body
This expanded human body shows organs from the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, skeletomuscular, and reproductive systems in relationship to each other. This real human specimen was preserved through the process of plastination, invented by Dr. Gunther Von Hagens and patented between 1977 and 1982. Von Hagens’ goal was to preserve specimens for medical study.
Plastination is a multi-step process that can take up to a year to complete. All bodily fluids and soluble fats are removed from the specimens and then replaced by resins and elastomers, natural or synthetic polymer having elastic properties. Once the specimen has absorbed these substances, it can be with gas, light or heat to harden and preserve it. The plastination took place at the Institute for Plastination in Germany.
Additional information
Copyright information
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