Wax model of a female human head, Germany, 1801-1900
Complete with eyelashes, this remarkably life-like wax head has been cut away to show the skull and the muscles of the eye, face and neck. Wax models were used for teaching anatomy to medical students or as part of popular anatomy shows. They were used to pick out and emphasise specific features of the body, making their structure and function easier to understand, especially at a time when few bodies were available for dissection. The model was donated by the Department of Human Anatomy at the University of Oxford.
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Glossary: anatomical model
A model that demonstrates the structure of the human body through the separation of its parts. Often used for teaching purposes.
A branch of medical science concerned with the structure of living organisms.
The cutting apart and separation of body tissues for the purposes of critical examination. Dissection of corpses is often carried out for the study of anatomy.