True Anatomy for New Ways of Teaching

von Hagens Plastination offers one-of-a-kind, real human teaching specimens. These unique teaching resources are made possible through the revolutionary preservation process of Plastination, invented by anatomist Dr Gunther von Hagens, founder of von Hagens Plastination. All of our specimens are made in Germany and stem from body donors who donated their bodies with willed legal consent in their lifetime, for the education of future generations. Specimens of human origin are exclusively available for medical teaching and research.

Teaching Specimens

Our line of anatomical resources includes silicone plastinates, sheet plastination, anatomy glass, blood vessel configurations, skeletons and skulls.

Silicone Plastinates

Silicone Plastinates are three-dimensional plastinated specimens from real human bodies. Either whole bodies, body regions, single organs or body systems are available. They are dissected in different and unique ways. Silicone Plastinates have a high didactical value and are particularly suitable for universities and museums.

Sheet Plastination

Sheet Plastinates are 1–5 millimeter thick cured body slices from real human bodies. The intricate world of macroscopy is revealed, the colored, dry and odorless slices show the positions of structural elements in relationship to each other and offer a clear, didactically valuable distinction of the different kinds of tissues.

Anatomy Glass

Anatomy Glass are high resolution acrylic glass prints of the best original Sheet Plastinates. They offer anatomical cuts unequalled in quality; even structures within the submacroscopical scope can be examined. Anatomy Glass is available for the general public, since it does not violate the sales restrictions of genuine human specimens.

Blood Vessels

Blood Vessel Configurations are three-dimensional castings of the inner blood vessels, body parts and whole bodies. By create, blood vessels are injected with polymers, after the injected polymers have been cured, the surrounding tissue is removed. The resulting specimens precisely demonstrate the smallest blood vessels.

Skeletons and Skulls

Skeletons and Skulls, the skeleton from the Greek ‘skeletos’, meaning “desiccated body” forms the scaffolding of the human body. Of the more than 200 bones in the human body, the skull is the most difficult to teach and to memorize. Instruction works best with a so called expanded skull, as has been the practice in anatomy education for more than 100 years.

Letter from Dr Gunther von Hagens

Dear Fellow Educator,

When I invented Plastination my intention was to allow people of all educational backgrounds to learn more about health and anatomy through real human specimens. In 1982 I offered the first plastinates and anatomical specimens for teaching and research purposes to universities. Through the BODY WORLDS exhibitions, that began touring in 1996, we have introduced plastination to a broad audience.

Today more than 50 million people have seen BODY WORLDS which makes it the most successful travelling exhibition in the world. The success of BODY WORLDS enabled me to create the most innovative and largest Plastination center in the world, in Guben, Germany in 2006. Our 70 employees work to plastinate real anatomical teaching specimens for von Hagens Plastination. I also continue to work with my team to continuously develop and improve the Plastination process.

As the inventor of Plastination I am proud to be able to present original specimens that reflect the most advanced standards of my Plastination science. We hope to show you of the advantages and superior quality of our plastinated specimens.

Our human specimens stem from the Institute for Plastination’s body donation program, which I founded in 1993. All body donors have given their written consent during their lifetime that their bodies should be used for the education of future generations through Plastination. Plastinated specimens of human origin are only available to "Qualified Users," such as universities or medical practitioners, who can prove their need for anatomical teaching specimens to fulfill their research and educational goals.

We are convinced and we hope you agree, that von von Hagens Plastination's specimens will be a valuable contribution to your educational program.

If you have questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to call, e-mail or — even better — visit us in Guben. We are looking forward to meeting you!

Yours sincerely,

Dr Gunther von Hagens

Inventor of Plastination, Creator of BODY WORLDS and PLASTINARIUM
such as Founder of von Hagens Plastination / Gubener Plastinate GmbH

What is Plastination?

Plastination is an innovative method of conserving anatomical specimens, where all bodily fluids are exchanged with a polymer, which can be hardened. Plastination was invented by Gunther von Hagens in 1977 and he and his team have further developed the process since then. Through this revolutionary Plastination process, the specimens are odorless, obtain no health risks and are permanently fixed with original characteristics.

The Benefits of Using Plastinates

The pioneering specimen preservation method of Plastination has changed is changing the way medical professionals, researchers and students engage with, and learn about, the human body. Plastinates allow a considered encounter and deep engagement with human biology and anatomy, with none of the disadvantages of traditional specimens.

The Body Donation Program

All of our anatomical specimens stem from individuals who donated their bodies with willed legal consent in their lifetime, for the education of future generations. For more than 30 years, the Body Donation Program for Plastination has been the ethical cornerstone of our work.

About Us – Where Plastination Takes Place

As the leader in Plastination, our range of innovative educational resources are all made in the laboratories of Gubener Plastinate GmbH in Guben, Germany under the direct supervision of Dr. Gunther von Hagens, the inventor of Plastination. Our anatomy specialist, most with years or even decades of experience, meticulously dissect our specimens to highlight even the smallest details and ensure anatomical accuracy.

Contact us

Our team and partners are available for information, questions, inquiries or comments. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Contact Information:
Email: contact@guben.plastination.com
Phone: +49 3561 5474 200
Office hours: 8 AM - 5 PM (GMT +1 (Berlin))