The diverse utility of wet prosections and plastinated specimens in teaching gross anatomy in New Zealand.

Anatomical education has traditionally used cadaveric material to study the human body, with both wet prosections and plastinated (PP) material commonly utilized. However, the frequency of use of these different preparation modes in a tertiary institution has not been previously examined. An audit of PP use in the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology at the University of Otago was performed for 2009, assessing the number of courses, variety, and number of PP used throughout 2009. Results indicate the unique and diverse nature of PP utilization and are discussed with reference to their relative strengths and weaknesses. Such information is useful to those wishing to initiate or maintain programs that involve the teaching of human anatomy with cadaveric material.