Plastinated

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. The process of preserving biological tissues through infiltration with synthetic polymers to create durable anatomical specimens for educational and research purposes
2. A method involving the replacement of water and lipids in biological specimens with a polymer, rendering them anatomically stable for display and study
3. The technique of treating organic material with silicone or resin to achieve long-lasting preservation for scientific observation and educational use

Etymology: Anatomist Gunther von Hagens developed the technique in Germany, and the name was coined for the process rather than borrowed from an existing term. It is built on "plastic," which reaches English through French and Latin from the Greek "plastikos," meaning "fit for moulding," from "plassein," to shape or mould. The word is a verb formed with the suffix "-ate," meaning to treat something with plastic, and the "-ed" ending makes it describe a specimen that has been so treated. In the process, water and fat are removed from tissue and replaced under vacuum with silicone or resin, which then hardens and keeps the structure intact.