In this blog post, we’ll explore the principles and production process of plastination—a technique developed by German anatomist Gunther von Hagens—as well as the origins of the human specimens and the significance of this technology in medical and general education.
The “Body Worlds” exhibition by German anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens has attracted significant global attention since its debut in Japan in 1995. To date, more than 58 million visitors have seen the exhibition in over 170 cities across 42 countries. The human body reveals a structure that is both mysterious and beautiful. Plastination is a technique that preserves the human body and its organs for the long term by dissecting tissues such as skin and fat while maintaining the body’s structure, removing bodily fluids and water-soluble fats, and replacing them with a special polymer. Developed for the study and education of human anatomy, this technique is used not only in the medical field but also to convey knowledge about the human body to the general public. Visitors can examine actual human specimens up close and gain a new perspective on the structure and function of the human body. A distinctive feature of plastination is that the displayed specimens are posed in various positions, just like living people. Specimens recreating various movements—such as figure skating or horseback riding—realistically demonstrate how anatomical structures like muscles, bones, and organs are connected to the body’s movements.
It is thanks to plastination technology that the specimens do not decompose easily and can maintain specific poses. This technology was developed in 1977 by Gunther von Hagens. While conducting anatomical research at the University of Heidelberg, he developed a vacuum technique capable of preserving human tissue for extended periods; he further refined this to establish plastination, a unique preservation method. Human specimens created using this technique are called “Plastinates.” Since plastinates have had their bodily fluids and fat removed and a polymer has penetrated and hardened within the tissue, they can be fixed in specific poses while retaining the actual anatomical structure of the human body. This allows for a realistic demonstration of how muscles, bones, and organs are arranged and relate to one another during everyday activities. The “BODY WORLDS” exhibition primarily aims to educate the general public about the internal structure and physiological functions of the human body using these specimens. By comparing healthy organs with diseased ones, it helps visitors understand the consequences of healthy versus unhealthy lifestyles, as well as the impact that lifestyle habits and choices have on the human body. From a professional perspective, plastinates are also used as educational and research materials that allow for the long-term, stable observation and study of human anatomy while eliminating issues such as decay and foul odors. The complex process of plastination consists of five main stages: fixation and dissection, removal of body fluids and fat, vacuum infusion, positioning, and curing.
The first stage is fixation and dissection. First, a preservative solution, such as formaldehyde, is injected through the cadaver’s blood vessels to inhibit bacterial activity and prevent tissue decay. Subsequently, the skin, fat, and connective tissue are removed, and the anatomical structures to be preserved are meticulously dissected. This process requires a significant amount of time, depending on the type and complexity of the specimen. Once the dissection is complete, the cadaver is placed in an acetone bath to remove water and water-soluble fats from the tissue. In particular, when acetone is used at low temperatures, water inside the cells is expelled and replaced by acetone. This process constitutes the dehydration and fat removal stage in plastination.
Next comes the vacuum-assisted infiltration process, which can be considered the most critical stage in plastination. This is because only through this process can the preservative polymer penetrate the body’s tissues and solidify the specimen. First, the water and water-soluble fats remaining in the body’s tissues are replaced with acetone, and then the body, now containing acetone, is immersed in a liquid polymer solution. Next, a vacuum is created to vaporize the acetone at a low temperature; as the acetone escapes from the tissues, a liquid polymer—such as silicone rubber—takes its place and penetrates deep into the tissues. Through this process, the polymer becomes embedded within the tissue while preserving its shape and anatomical structure. Next, during the positioning process, auxiliary tools such as needles, wires, clamps, and foam blocks are used to precisely adjust the positions of muscles, bones, and organs to achieve the desired pose. Finally, during the curing process, the specimen is hardened using light, heat, or specific gases, depending on the properties of the polymer used. After undergoing these steps, the plastinate is completed as a dry, virtually odorless, and durable human specimen.
You may wonder about the identity of the bodies used in the plastination process. The “Mysteries of the Human Body” exhibition displays entire bodies and various organs using the bodies of actual organ donors. The primary source material consists of bodies donated by individuals who, during their lifetimes, expressed a wish for their bodies to be used for medical and educational purposes after death. As of January 2025, more than 22,000 donors are registered in the Institute for Plastination’s human body donation program. Whole-body specimens and most other specimens are created from the bodies of these donors, while some organs and specimens illustrating specific diseases or abnormal anatomical conditions are provided by existing anatomical and morphological research institutions. Because the age range of cadavers used in medical education through body donation is diverse, the human body parts and organs on display also vary widely, ranging from fetuses to the elderly. Furthermore, specimens are arranged to allow for comparisons between healthy and diseased organs, enabling visitors to observe firsthand how diseases affect the human body. For example, by comparing the lungs of a healthy person with those of a smoker, or by comparing normal organs with organs that have undergone structural changes due to specific diseases, visitors can understand the effects of lifestyle habits, diseases, and genetic factors on the human body. However, as a matter of principle, the identities and causes of death of the donors on display are not disclosed.
Generally, after death, the human body begins to decompose due to microbial activity and the effects of moisture and nutrients within the tissues. Plastination halts this natural decomposition process, allowing the anatomical forms of the human body and organs to be preserved for the long term. Various donated bodies and organs are transformed into solid human specimens through five main processes: fixation and dissection, removal of body fluids and fat, vacuum-assisted infiltration, positioning, and hardening. Through these plastinates, both experts and the general public can relatively easily understand a wide range of information regarding human biological structure, life history, lifestyle habits, and diseases. Comparing the anatomical structures of a healthy human body with those of a diseased one reveals just how complex and intricately constructed the human body is—and, at the same time, how vulnerable it is. Furthermore, one can examine the process of how the human body changes from the fetal stage to old age from an anatomical perspective. Plastination has evolved beyond a visually intriguing exhibition technique into a technology that enables the use of actual human specimens in medical and anatomical education and research. It is still used today to prepare specimens for medical and anatomical education and serves as an important educational tool for understanding the structure of the human body and various diseases.
