Cadaver Preservation for Display in Malaysian Anatomy Museums: Methods, Challenges, and Cultural Considerations
Main Article Content
Abstract
The preservation of cadaveric specimens in anatomy museums is a cornerstone of medical education and research. This review examines the unique practices of cadaver preservation in Malaysian anatomy museums, addressing the following research question: What are the current methods, challenges, and cultural considerations in cadaver preservation in Malaysian anatomy museums? The review provides a detailed exploration of locally developed preservation methods, ethical and cultural influences, and a comparative analysis of traditional and modern techniques, such as formalin-based embalming and plastination. Furthermore, it evaluates the sustainability and future trends in cadaver preservation, ensuring these museums continue to serve as educational resources for future generations.
Downloads
Article Details
References
Antoine D, Vandenbeusch M. Mummified human remains from Ancient Egypt and Nubia: an overview and new insights from the British Museum collection. The Handbook of Mummy Studies: New Frontiers in Scientific and Cultural Perspectives. 2020:1-65.
Singh R. History of anatomy and its involvement with medical science and practice: Historical review. Anatomy Journal of Africa. 2023;12(2):2340-51. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/aja.v12i2.2
Arbel B. The beginnings of comparative anatomy and Renaissance reflections on the human–animal divide. Renaissance Studies. 2017;31(2):201-22. DOI: 10.1111/rest.12290
Martínez-Graciá C, González-Bermúdez CA, Cabellero-Valcárcel AM, Santaella-Pascual M, Frontela-Saseta C. Use of herbs and spices for food preservation: Advantages and limitations. Current opinion in food science. 2015;6:38-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2015.11.011
Gulczyński J, Paluchowski P, Halasz J, Szarszewski A, Bukowski M, Iżycka-Świeszewska E. An insight into the history of anatomopathological museums. Part 2. Polish Journal of Pathology. 2018;69(2):118-27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pjp.2018.76695
Ottone NE. Brief Review of the Origins of Plastination. Advances in Plastination Techniques. 2023:19-52.
Bouchard G. Performing Specimens: Contemporary Performance and Biomedical Display: Bloomsbury Publishing; 2020.
Fatin Z, Othman N, Haris H, Najmuddin M, Rahayu MI, Zairi ZM, et al., editors. Perception of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on Various Curation and Preservation Techniques for the Development of Natural History Gallery in Malaysia: A Qualitative Study. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science; 2021: IOP Publishing. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/736/1/012014
Changmai MC, Gohain K, Zulkarnaie AAB. Cadaver Dissection: Attitude and Perception of Its Importance Among Medical and Health Science Students in Learning Anatomy. Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences. 2020;16(7).
Atwa H, Dafalla S, Kamal D. Wet specimens, plastinated specimens, or plastic models in learning anatomy: Perception of undergraduate medical students. Medical Science Educator. 2021;31:1479-86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-021-01343-6
Vandenbossche V, Van de Velde J, Avet S, Willaert W, Soltvedt S, Smit N, et al. Digital body preservation: Technique and applications. Anatomical Sciences Education. 2022;15(4):731-44. https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.2199
Latiff AMA, Din AM, Munshi MA, Alashkham FAH. Adapting Medical Museums: Technology, Education, and Research. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal. 2023;8(26):197-204. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v8i26.5171
Kapoor P, Sharma P. Potential health hazards of formaldehyde usage in gross anatomy dissection hall on students and instructors. Era's Journal of Medical Research. 2020;7(2):235-8. DOI:10.24041/ejmr2020.40
Nurunnabi ASM, Alim A, Hoque MM, Askary S. Plastination: A Novel Way of Preservation of Cadaveric Specimens for Teaching and Learning Human Anatomy. Mediscope. 2023;10(1):31-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/mediscope.v10i1.65409
Manan J, Wahid WA, Norzani MFF. ASSESSING DETERIORATION FACTORS OF ARTEFACTS IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MALAYSIA. 2022.
Rashidan H, Chermud AN, Ng Poh Kim D, Faizah HAR, Ibrahim I, Latifah SM, et al. Passage through time University Of Malaya Library: 1957-1997: University of Malaya Library; 1997.
Jalani SAM, Rushlan MAA, Yen SGS, Hadie SNH, Minhat HS, Abas R. Medical Students' Perception of Anatomy Education Environment in Universiti Putra Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences. 2021;17(4).
Yen SGS, Jalani SAM, Rushlan MAA, Hadie SNH, Minhat HS, Abas R. Anatomy Education Environment among Pre-Clinical Medical Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia Using Anatomy Education Environment Measurement Inventory. Education in Medicine Journal. 2021;13(3).
Simok AA, Hadie SNH, Ismail ZIM, Asari MA, Kasim F, Yusof NAM, et al. Anatomy Outreach Through the World Anatomy Day Celebration in Universiti Sains Malaysia. Education in Medicine Journal. 2022;14(4):113-20. https://doi.org/10.21315/eimj2022.14.4.10
Kanagasabapathy MV, Sathurusangaravel E. A Novel Portable, Economical Pump to Inject Embalming Fluid to Preserve Cadavers. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences. 2021;10(19):1377-82.
Zuber M, Corda JV, Souza AD. Formaldehyde concentration in an anatomical dissection room with three different ventilation configurations using computational fluid dynamics. Engineered Science. 2022;18(3):177-86.
Ahmad AT. Museums, history and culture in Malaysia: NUS Press; 2014.
Saifuddeen SM. An Islamic Perspective on the Usage of Bodies of the Deceased in the Teaching and Learning of Anatomy. TAFHIM: IKIM Journal of Islam and the Contemporary World. 2023;16(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.56389/tafhim.vol16no1.3
Radzi MAzA, Sha'ban M, Azharuddin NSM, Azhim A, Hashi AA. A Survey on Relevant Malaysian Fatwā about Cadaver Concerning Tissue Engineering Research. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities. 2020;28(2).
Wong LP, Alias H, Tan S-L, Saw A. Conduct of body donation and cadaveric dissection training during the COVID-19 pandemic: challenges, impacts and mitigation. Anatomical Science International. 2023:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-023-00723-9
Hadie SNH, Gasmalla HEE, Wadi MM, Zainul Abidin MA, Yusoff MSB. From generosity to gratitude: Exploring Islamic views on body donation, human dissection, and honoring the gift of life. Anatomical Sciences Education. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.2393
Al-Worafi YM. Handbook of Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine: Education, Practice, and Research Volume 3: Research Evidence Based Clinical Practice: CRC Press; 2024.
Lischer-Katz Z. The emergence of digital reformatting in the history of preservation knowledge: 1823–2015. Journal of Documentation. 2022;78(6):1249-77. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-04-2021-0080
Haque A, Haque M, Than M, Khassan L, Ishak A, Azmi A, et al. Perception on the use of plastinated specimen in anatomy learning among preclinical medical students of UNIKL RCMP, Malaysia. J Glob Pharm Technol. 2017;9(9):25-33.
Saw A. A new approach to body donation for medical education: The silent mentor programme. Malaysian orthopaedic journal. 2018;12(2):68. https://doi.org/10.5704/MOJ.1807.015
McBain K, Chen L, Lee A, O'Brien J, Ventura NM, Noël GP. Evaluating the integration of body donor imaging into anatomical dissection using augmented reality. Anatomical Sciences Education. 2023;16(1):71-86. https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.2157