Attempting to Understand the Effects of Thiel Embalming and Addressing Potential Legislative Changes
type: CreativeWork
description: Thiel embalmed cadavers were first used by the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, University of Dundee, in 2009, marking their introduction to the UK having been developed by Professor Walter Thiel in the University of Graz, Austria, over a thirty year period to 1992. The cadavers produced by the Thiel embalming method have many advantages over those produced by the more traditional formalin-phenol based method including a high degree of flexibility on par with in vivo conditions. However there is a distinct paucity of information regarding the way in which Thiel embalming affects the cadaveric tissues and the inherent implications for anatomical teaching and research. In addition, the Thiel solution uses formalin and boric acid, two chemicals which may be affected by changes in legislation governing their use within the EU. On that basis, the need to understand the effects of Thiel embalming on tissues, as well as the need to investigate the potential removal of formalin and boric acid from the Thiel solution, was acknowledged. This study presents an analysis of the effects of Thiel embalming using skeletal muscle and tendon samples, taken from an animal model, as these tissues are believed to be important to the flexibility of Thiel cadavers, using a number of methods. The way in which the effects are related to the flexibility caused is also considered in the context of existing relevant literature. In addition, the potential to remove and replace formalin and boric acid from the standard Thiel solution is also addressed. In assessing the effects of Thiel embalming solution on skeletal muscle and tendon, the aim of the thesis is to test the hypotheses that (i) changes in muscle and/or tendon structure, particularly in relation to collagen content, are responsible for the exaggerated flexibility seen in cadavers preserved using this method, (ii) it is the high salt content of Thiel embalming solution which is responsible for the change in tissue structur…
abstract: Thiel embalmed cadavers were first used by the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, University of Dundee, in 2009, marking their introduction to the UK having been developed by Professor Walter Thiel in the University of Graz, Austria, over a thirty year period to 1992. The cadavers produced by the Thiel embalming method have many advantages over those produced by the more traditional formalin-phenol based method including a high degree of flexibility on par with in vivo conditions. However there is a distinct paucity of information regarding the way in which Thiel embalming affects the cadaveric tissues and the inherent implications for anatomical teaching and research. In addition, the Thiel solution uses formalin and boric acid, two chemicals which may be affected by changes in legislation governing their use within the EU. On that basis, the need to understand the effects of Thiel embalming on tissues, as well as the need to investigate the potential removal of formalin and boric acid from the Thiel solution, was acknowledged. This study presents an analysis of the effects of Thiel embalming using skeletal muscle and tendon samples, taken from an animal model, as these tissues are believed to be important to the flexibility of Thiel cadavers, using a number of methods. The way in which the effects are related to the flexibility caused is also considered in the context of existing relevant literature. In addition, the potential to remove and replace formalin and boric acid from the standard Thiel solution is also addressed. In assessing the effects of Thiel embalming solution on skeletal muscle and tendon, the aim of the thesis is to test the hypotheses that (i) changes in muscle and/or tendon structure, particularly in relation to collagen content, are responsible for the exaggerated flexibility seen in cadavers preserved using this method, (ii) it is the high salt content of Thiel embalming solution which is responsible for the change in tissue structur…
author: Tennent, Seaneen
language: eng
date published: 2014
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:08:05Z
provider: University of Dundee
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Dundee