Historical Roots of Modern Neurosurgical Cadaveric Research Practices: Dissection, Preservation, and Vascular Injection Techniques

Authors

• Thomas J. On, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
• Yuan Xu, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.Follow
• Ali Tayebi Meybodi, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
• Oscar Alcantar-Garibay, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
• Andrea L. Castillo, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
• Ahmet Özak, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
• Irakliy Abramov, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
• T Forcht Dagi, Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
• Mark C. Preul, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Electronic address: Neuropub@barrowneuro.org.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Because of the complexity of the brain and its structures, anatomical knowledge is fundamental in neurosurgery. Anatomical dissection, body preservation, and vascular injection remain essential for training, teaching, and refining surgical techniques. This article explores the historical development of these practices and provides the contextual background of modern neurosurgical cadaveric brain models. Body preservation has ancient beginnings, evident in the Chinchorro mummifications and Egyptian embalming. However, brain preservation techniques for education were scarce until the beginning of the Renaissance in Europe. At the University of Bologna in the 13th century, occasional dissections were performed only in winter because of the lack of preservation techniques. Pope Sixtus IV's 1482 papal bull (official decree) formalized and expanded the use of dissection in medical education, leading to an explosion in anatomical studies. This surge brought advances in body preservation, such as soaking bodies in vinegar and distilled liquors. In subsequent centuries, Andreas Vesalius and Charles Bell advanced brain anatomical techniques and knowledge, combining novel illustrations and instruction. To better understand brain vasculature, Richard Lower developed vascular injection techniques using india ink and spirits of wine, leading to the 1664 description of the circle of Willis by Thomas Willis. In 1868, August Hofmann synthesized formaldehyde, markedly improving tissue preservation. Later, William Kruse introduced latex in 1939, and Sidney Sobin introduced silicone in 1965 for vascular studies. These advancements laid the foundation for modern neurosurgical cadaveric studies, many remaining relevant today.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Dissection (history); Cadaver; Neurosurgery (history); History, 20th Century; History, Ancient; History, 19th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, Medieval; History, 15th Century; Neurosurgical Procedures (history, methods); Brain (surgery, anatomy & histology); History, 21st Century; Embalming (history, methods)

Publication Date

12-1-2024

Publication Title

World neurosurgery

E-ISSN

1878-8769

Volume

192

First Page

43

Last Page

55

PubMed ID

39216723

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.wneu.2024.08.120

Recommended Citation

On, Thomas J.; Xu, Yuan; Tayebi Meybodi, Ali; Alcantar-Garibay, Oscar; Castillo, Andrea L.; Özak, Ahmet; Abramov, Irakliy; Forcht Dagi, T; and Preul, Mark C., "Historical Roots of Modern Neurosurgical Cadaveric Research Practices: Dissection, Preservation, and Vascular Injection Techniques" (2024). Neurosurgery. 2333.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurosurgery/2333