Plastination Technique and Its Impact on Medical Education

Introduction:Plastination has been one of the most effective preservative methods for organic tissue during the last four decades. In this technique, water and lipid content present within biological tissue samples are substituted by polymers (silicone, epoxy, pol yester), resulting in dry, durable, and odourless specimens. Plastinated specimens are now used as teaching tools and various medical disciplines, such as anatomy, pathology, radiology, surgery, and so on across the world. Since its development by Gunther von Hagens in 1977, plastination is getting increasing acceptance by the day and proving itself to be an excellent resource material for both teaching and learning. This review highlights the origin, procedure, types, significance, and drawbacks of plastination along with its ethical aspects.

Designing A Contemporary Anatomy Museum: Anatomists' Perspective.

Background: A research study was conducted in sixteen anatomy museums across India. Aim: The aim of the study is to have an integrated approach while designing a museum. Objective: The objective is to stress on the need to have a holistic approach while designing a museum so that that the museum is well planned and organised and has a huge sectional diversity that spans all aspects related to anatomy. Materials and Methods: All the museums were studied using a planned proforma that emphasised on special features of the museum with special emphasis on sectional variety. Observations: The various techniques of specimen preparation, preservation, mounting and display were observed and photographed. The sectional variety was noted. Moreover the various methods of maintaining specimen related information in pictorial and computerised catalogues was observed. Results and Conclusion: A design of a contemporary anatomymuseumcan nowbe conceived that incorporates all aspects of anatomy from history, evolution, embryology, cross-sectional anatomy, comparative anatomy, teratology, genetics and clinical anatomy to sections with modern techniques like plastination. Such amuseum will certainly have a more holistic approach to anatomy and will be more educative and scientific.

A study on anterior clinoid process and optic strut with emphasis on variations of caroticoclinoid foramen.

This study presents the incidence of carotico-clinoid foramen, dimensions of the anterior clinoid process and optic strut in dry skulls to provide a guide to neurosurgeons in surgical approach especially to anterior part of cavernous sinus. Thirty-five dry skulls were used. Basal width, length, thickness of anterior clinoid process and thickness of optic strut was measured. Morphology of carotico-clinoid foramen was also studied. The average length, basal width and thickness of the anterior clinoid process on right side were 10.74 +/- 2.37 mm, 10.83 +/- 1.20 mm, 5.13 +/- 1.03 mm and left side were 9.91 +/- 1.50 mm, 11.0 +/- 1.12, 5.33 +/- 0.96 mm. Average thickness of optic strut was 3.79 +/- 0.88 mm on right side and 3.61 +/- 0.78 mm on left side. Out of 70 sides in thirty five skulls examined, carotico-clinoid foramen was observed in 14 (20.0%) cases. Out of which complete foramen was in 3 (right side, 4.3%), partial in 8 (6 right, 2 left, 11.4%) and contact in 3 (left side, 4.3%) respectively. Comparison with other races and differences between right and left sides were also discussed. The present study was done to obtain dimensions of anterior clinoid, optic strut, their anatomical variants and incidence of caroticoclinoid foramen in location population. This study will help the surgeons to plan their approach to this area and thus will make the surgical procedure safer

Renal dimensions in Nepalese population: a preliminary study.

Kidney dimensions have been measured in various parts of the world ultrasonographically and morphometrically though never in Nepal. Prior knowledge of kidney dimensions in Nepalese population would be of immense help to ultrasonologists planning to scan kidney. Forty normal-appearing formalin-preserved adult kidneys of unknown age and sex were measured using a sliding caliper for maximum length, width and thickness. Weight of kidney was measured by a "micro" weighing balance. Student's t test was applied for statistical significance. Right kidney was 85.25 +/- 10.7mm. long, 50.65 +/- 5.8mm. wide and 34.6 +/- 5.1 mm. thick. Left kidney was 91.65 +/- 9.2mm. long, 53.65 +/- 5.2mm. wide and 38.5 +/- 4.1 mm. thick. Weight of right kidney was 84.16 +/- 28.4 gm. and left kidney was 111.1 +/- 28.9 gm. Kidneys of Nepalese population were shorter and lighter than people living in other parts of the world. Difference between length, thickness and weight of left and right kidney was statistically significant but difference in width was not. Variation from other population is racial. Difference in left and right kidney dimensions is reported in various earlier literatures; therefore, Nepalese population is no exception.