Preservation of Specimens for Museum by Using Xylene with Melamine at Room Temperature

Preserving cadavers plays an important role in imparting quality medical education and supporting scientific research.Plastination is an advanced technique in which polymers are employed to preserve whole bodies, body parts, anatomical samples, and surgical specimens in a state that closely resembles their living condition.The aim of our study was to develop a cost-effective plastination technique by using an acid-curing polymer (xylene with melamine) at room temperature, without using a deep freezer and vacuum chamber.The specimens were prepared by routine dissection of formalin-embalmed cadavers.The hand, knee joint, and foot specimens were included for the same.The process of plastination involved fixation, dehydration, degreasing, impregnation of polymer, and hardening.The chemicals used in the above method include acetone, xylene, and acid-curing polymer melamine.After the complete plastination procedure, xylene significantly lowers the cost of plastination by reducing the amount of polymer used.In the field of gross anatomy, plastination opens up a new prospect.The use of plastinated specimens in lectures and demonstrations has enhanced knowledge and understanding of gross anatomy, including the relationship of structures with each other.This study concludes that plastinated specimens provide numerous benefits compared to those preserved in formalin.Our method significantly reduced the cost, thereby making the procedure cost-effective without compromising specimen quality.