Application of a thermosealing industrial process of packaging to human anatomical prosections in interactive teaching

Due to the inability to use cadaver dissection, for both legal and economic reasons [1], in the institute of Human Anatomy of Pavia, we started to use a thermosealing industrial process of packaging (VGP 60 Skin, Orved) to wrap and seal off fixed brains and cranial sections [2]. The purpose of this procedure is to improve students’ preparation in relation to skull osteology and topography of the central nervous system. Designed according to the most demanding hygienic requirements, the “Skin” effect is a packaging system that allows a specific film to adhere perfectly to the sample like a “second skin”, ensuring air-tight packaging with no type of drop and, at the same time, perfect preservation, allowing an excellent visibility too [2]. These preparations, very quick and easy to prepare, are no toxic anymore because lacking of formalin [3] and could be used by medical students to improve their approach to anatomic nervous system structures. First, we have washed brain samples in running water, then frozen to harden and finally sealed. We noted that this strategy largely improved student’s level of exam preparation on human prosectioned speciments in full compliance with the current safety regulations.