Plastinate

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A method that involves the preservation of biological tissues through the replacement of water and fat with synthetic polymers allows for detailed anatomical examination without degradation
2. The process of converting biological specimens into durable, lifelike forms by substituting their natural moisture with plastic materials enhances their suitability for educational and research use
3. A technique designed to preserve organic specimens by replacing their natural fluids with plastics results in a long-lasting, realistic presentation for study and display purposes

Etymology: Plastination was invented in 1977 by Gunther von Hagens, a German anatomist then working at the University of Heidelberg. Dissolving the water and fat in a body and replacing them with silicone, epoxy or polyester resin, he found, kept tissue firm and odourless without the bulk of formaldehyde-soaked specimens. The process is a deliberate coinage, not an old word that drifted in meaning: it was built in the late twentieth century from "plastic", which itself comes from the Greek "plastikos", meaning "fit for moulding", and the verb-forming suffix "-ate". The method works by immersing tissue in acetone, which draws out water and fat, then placing the specimen in a vacuum bath where the acetone evaporates and polymer fills the cells. The result is a rigid, lasting preparation that can be posed, sliced or displayed, which is why the technique spread quickly through medical schools and museums. The verb is used almost exclusively in this anatomical sense.

Synonyms: preserve, store, sustain, maintain, fixate

Antonyms: decompose, decay, deteriorate, disintegrate, destroy