Bone Preparation from Embalmed Human Cadavers - A Retrieval and Curation Technique

Review Article

Austin J Anat. 2021; 8(1): 1098.

Bone Preparation from Embalmed Human Cadavers - A Retrieval and Curation Technique

Nayyar AK* and Ghatak S

Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

*Corresponding author: Ashish Kumar Nayyar, Additional Professor, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AIIMS, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Received: May 19, 2021; Accepted: May 26, 2021; Published: June 02, 2021

Abstract

Bone preparation involves soft tissue removal, maceration, bleaching and labelling. In the absence of a standardized methodology a large repository of human bones are lost, as most medical colleges do not process bones after the dissection of human cadavers. The present study therefore conducted with the aim of evaluating the least time-consuming and effective method of bone preparation from embalmed and wet specimens.

The method used included a process of maceration, which involves soft tissue removal and then boiling the bones in 60 litres of water for 2 hours. The process of maceration was augmented by adding potassium hydroxide pellets (caustic potash mol. wt. 56.11) after 30 minutes of initiation of boiling; 200-250 gm in the case of male bones and 150 – 200 gm in the case of female bones. After maceration was complete, the bones were bleached by soaking them in 30 – 35 litres of hydrogen peroxide 30% w/v solution (mol. wt. 34.01) for 12-14 hours. The bleached bones were then washed with water and soaked in 30 -35 litres of acetone (extra pure mol. wt. 58.08, boiling point 55.5° – 56°C) for 12 hours to degrease them. The bones dried naturally by spreading them on blotting paper and subsequently painted with a mixture of half a litre of lacquer and half a litre of lacquer thinner.

This study concluded that the preparation of bones using the above method was effective, fast, odourless, and good quality human bones for anatomical study resulted.

Keywords: Soft tissue removal Maceration; Bleaching; Degreasing; Potassium hydroxide

Introduction

Through the ages, anatomy evolved as a foundation of medical education. Teaching anatomy has become a challenging task. Osteology or study of bones are very essential and integral part of anatomy teaching curriculum [1]. Human bones are unsurpassed in the ability to provide three-dimensional instruction in osteology. In addition, bones also assist in understanding the sites of soft tissue insertion and the course of neurovascular bundles in the region. By utilizing a combination of a dried bone with textbooks and atlases as well as anatomy dissection, the important aspect of bone anatomy can be learned most efficiently [2].

Bone preparation essentially involves soft tissue removal, bone bleaching, bone articulation and labelling. The time required for these processes vary depending on the size of the human dead body or the Caracas in case of animals [3]. There are different techniques used in bone preparation, which include insect consumption, cold-or warm -water maceration, which have been used as standard maceration techniques and requires between 2 days and 8 weeks depending on the amount of bacteria present, the size of material being macerated and the temperature of the environment during the maceration. Boiling and subsequent mechanical cleaning of skeletal material is also used [4].

Solutions of organic and inorganic chemicals are also used to remove soft tissue from bones. Inorganic chemicals used are antiformin, ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and other alkaline solutions. Maceration with organic chemicals can be performed with enzymes such as papain or pepsin or with washing powders containing enzymes [5] as well as burying in soil [1].

Original human bones are not available in the market due to government’s policy of not licensing any vendor to deal in human bones. In the absence of a standardized method of bone retrieval, a large repository of human bones is lost, as most medical colleges do not process the bones after the dissection of human cadavers. Original human bones sold by unauthorized persons are excessively expensive and that too without a valid invoice. Artificial bones made of plaster-of-paris or resins available in the market are inferior in terms of details of the morphological features of the original bones.

The authors, having tried different methods, have been able to standardize their own method and presents the method of retrieving bones from cadavers (or animals) using a combination of various bone cleaning techniques for anatomical studies.

Technical Details and Method of Use

Retrieval of bones from human cadavers includes the following steps:

Step1: Removal of soft tissue: Scrub, pick and (gently) scrape away loosened muscles, ligaments and soft tissues using a scalpel, opening up all the joints of extremities(Limbs) and separating the bones. Articulated hand and foot, vertebral column and pelvis should kept intact at this stage as any attempt to separate them at this stage may cause damage (Figure 1).