Gunther von Hagens

Gunther von Hagens (born Gunther Liebchen; 10 January 1945) is a German anatomist who invented the technique for preserving biological tissue specimens called plastination. He is also known for his controversial public displays of human bodies, which have been exhibited worldwide in the Body Worlds exhibitions.

Early Life and Education

Gunther von Hagens was born in Alt-Skalden, Province of Posen, Nazi Germany (now Skalmierzyce, Poland). He grew up in East Germany and studied medicine at the University of Jena. In 1969, he attempted to escape to West Germany but was caught and imprisoned for two years. After his release, he successfully fled to the West, where he continued his medical studies at the University of Lübeck and later at the University of Heidelberg.

Career

Von Hagens began his career as a resident in the Department of Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine at the University of Heidelberg. In 1977, he invented the technique of plastination, which involves replacing water and fat in biological tissues with certain plastics, thereby preserving the specimens for educational and instructional purposes.

Plastination

Plastination is a technique used in anatomy to preserve bodies or body parts. The water and fat are replaced by certain plastics, yielding specimens that can be touched, do not smell or decay, and even retain most properties of the original sample. This technique has been widely used in medical schools and universities for teaching anatomy.

Body Worlds

Von Hagens is best known for his Body Worlds exhibitions, which display human bodies that have been preserved through plastination. These exhibitions have been shown in more than 50 cities worldwide and have attracted over 50 million visitors. The exhibitions have sparked controversy and ethical debates regarding the display of human remains.

Personal Life

Gunther von Hagens is married to Dr. Angelina Whalley, who is also involved in the Body Worlds exhibitions. He has three children from a previous marriage.

Controversies

Von Hagens' work has been the subject of significant controversy. Critics have raised ethical concerns about the sourcing of bodies for plastination and the public display of human remains. Despite these controversies, von Hagens has defended his work as educational and has emphasized the importance of public understanding of human anatomy.

See Also

• Anatomy
• Body Worlds
• Plastination
• University of Heidelberg
• University of Lübeck