An improved method for the preservation of teaching specimens.

Although gross tissue specimens are a valuable aid to the teaching of pathology and anatomy, storage and handling of them is discouragingly difficult. Impregnation of biological materials with curable polymers (plastination) allows wider use of human tissue for both basic and clinical instruction. The process involves dehydration, saturation with an appropriate intermediary solvent, and infiltration with incured polymer in vacuo. The matching of each tissue with a resin with appropriate physical and optical qualities is essential for best results. The educational value of plastinated specimens is equal or superior to that of formaldehyde-preserved tissue, whereas their handling is greatly eased.