Wax, Wooden, Ivory, Cardboard, Bronze, Fabric, Plaster, Rubber and Plastic Anatomical Models: Praiseworthy Precursors of Plastinated Specimens

In the last centuries, teaching of anatomy required anatomical models because of the lack of satisfactory preservation techniques. These models had to meet many requirements: they should be as realistic as possible, not too delicate, contain some movable parts, and not be too expensive. Many different kinds of materials have been used in that aim. Nowadays, most of these models are rightly regarded as masterpieces which paved the way for current anatomical teaching. One of their major defaults was the lack of authenticity: in some ways, this last step was cleared by the invention of plastination some twenty years ago.