Plastination of the heart.
Karine Oostrom
Overview
- Removal:
A heart that has not been removed properly will be difficult to plastinate.- Dilatation:
Hearts are dilated with tap water under hydrostatic pressure to relax the muscle. This opens the chambers and provides a clear view of internal structures after plastination.- Color Injection:
Injection provides better definition of coronary vessels and results in a teaching specimen with more information.- Fixation:
Hearts are fixed in two stages, first under hydrostatic pressure, then by immersion.- Dehydration:
This also requires two stages. First, the heart is pre-dehydrated under hydrostatic pressure; then it is completely dehydrated by freeze substitution.- Degreasing:
This is the latest step to be recommended. Degreasing reduces the likelihood of white spots appearing in the adipose tissue with time.- Forced Impregnation:
This is the main step. It takes place under vacuum, according to the S10 Standard Technique.- Cutting:
Internal structures are revealed by sawing the heart into two halves with a band saw or by cutting windows in the heart wall.- Curing:
The heart must be cured in its natural shape since this step will render specimen rigid.