Colour plastination - A valuable tool for medical education

Introduction: Plastination is the process in which water and lipids in biological tissues are replaced with curable polymers. Colouring of structures of the specimen adds beauty and clarity. The aim of present study is to obtain coloured plastinates using chemical reagents which give colour to biological tissues that withstand the steps of plastination and use them for teaching purpose. Materials and methods: Colouring of arteries, veins, nerves, aponeurosis and tendons was done by applying the reagents sequentially on tissues and then plastinated using the Standard S10 technique. Results: The colours withstood the process of plastination. The colour remained stable over the years. Discussion: Colour plastination adds value to the plastinates as a teaching tool, by highlighting regions of interest, thereby forming an important adjunct in anatomical education. (C) 2015 Anatomical Society of India. Published by Elsevier, a division of Reed Elsevier India, Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.