The preparation of human cross sections

Technical advances in the field of radiology, especially computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanning, have made gross anatomical cross-sections increasingly important in understanding the relationships of internal structures. Since 1940, the Anatomy Program at the University of Vermont has developed and used cross-sections of the entire human body in teaching predoctoral, postdoctoral, and allied health professionals. This paper describes in detail the process through which specimens are selected, embalmed, frozen, sectioned, and displayed. Kaiserling's Method is used for fixation and preservation of the specimens, which are then housed in appropriate display containers. Specimens prepared over forty years ago in the manner described in this paper are still in use.