There’s no doubt about it, the human body is both weird and
wonderful and our Allied Health students get to learn every day about its
quirks. Specifically they are now beginning to get an even greater insight into
human anatomy, thanks to the use of plastinated body parts within our anatomy
courses.
For those who have never heard of Plastination, it is a
chemical technique developed by Germany’s Gunther von Hagens, made famous by
his Body Worlds exhibitions. The technique preserves bodies, or body parts (yes
actual human body parts from people who have donated their bodies to science),
so that they can be safely used for educational purposes. CQUniversity is one
of the first Australian universities to introduce plastinates.
The intricate detail preserved within each plastinate makes
them perfect for tertiary level programs, and so there was little hesitation
when it was proposed that this ingenious teaching tool should be introduced
into our class rooms. Coming from a health background myself, I cannot stress
enough the value of learning about the human body from a human body. What’s
more the use of these plastinates is a great way to help familiarise students
with the human body in way that is much less confronting than the use of
cadavers.
The use of such realistic teaching practices is a direction
I am proud that CQUniversity is taking. Along with plastinates our School of
Medical and Applied Sciences have also introduced displays cast from
original bone, from the Bone Clones® Human Adult Skeleton Series and
our School of Nursing and Midwifery has gained National and International recognition
for the Mask-Ed (KRS Simulation) pioneered by our very own Professor Kerry
Reid-Searl.
This ‘real-world’ approach is not only preparing our
students for clinical practice but is preparing them for their careers. Click here to see a video about plastinates at CQUni.
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