Anatomy

In the Department of Anatomy, only body donors who have made their bodies available for teaching by contract during their lifetime are prepared.

At an anatomical institute, the human preparator works in the service of medical training and medical research. Medical students learn the normal structure (anatomy) of the human body from the bodies they preserve and the preparations they make. Particularly in this subject area, specific preparation methods are also used, such as: Plastination, corrosion, maceration, inclusion and brightening preparations, casting procedures, model making. The preparations obtained in this way are often not only used for study purposes, but are also permanently exhibited in collections and museums.

Nowadays, imaging techniques such as computer tomography are increasingly used. Other tasks may include embalming and coffining for undertakers, taking care of ordering, the proper disposal of materials and chemicals, the care of already existing collection preparations, etc.

In addition to student training, clinical courses are often offered at the anatomical institutes, in cooperation with industry and hospitals. New materials are tested and new surgical methods are applied and practised. This also requires the expert support of human preparators.

In general, manual dexterity and a very good knowledge of anatomy are required to perform these tasks.