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Decay is a vital process in nature but an impediment to morphological studies, teaching, and research. This is particularly true for biological specimens, which shrink considerably when exposed to normal athmospheric conditions. Not only internal organs (e.g., heart, brain, muscle specimens) are affected but also paleontological and archeological objects (e.g., wood, leather, bog people). Plastination is a unique method of permanently preserving tissue in a lifelike state. It is a vacuum process in which a specimen is impregnated with a reactive polymer. The difference in vapor pressure between the polymer and a volatile intermediary solvent propels the impregnation. The specimens retain their original surface relief and cellular identity down to the microscopic level. Therefore, plastination is not only suited for morphologists from anatomy, pathology, and zoology, but also for biologically oriented museums. A special application of plastination is the preservation of transparent organ and body slices, which are 1-3 mm thick. Serial sections are particularly useful in teaching, research, diagnostic purposes and in radiology. Serial sectioning allows for quick screening of whole organs and surgical specimens.
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