Is it possible to display the human body like art? At the ULB – Louis Deroubaix Museum of Human Anatomy and Embryology, the answer is a resounding yes. This museum is not your typical art gallery. It displays the intricate beauty and complexity of the human form.
The Louis Deroubaix Museum of Human Anatomy and Embryology is located on the Erasmus hospital-faculty campus. It primarily serves medical students from the Universit\u00e9 Libre de Bruxelles. But it also welcomes the general public. The museum’s collection is unusual and fascinating.
The museum was founded in 1838 by Professor Louis Deroubaix. It began with existing collections before the university’s creation. Famous anatomists and embryologists like Albert Dalcq and Albert Brachet expanded it. The museum moved several times with the Faculty of Medicine. It was first on Rue des Sols, then Parc L\u00e9opold, Porte de Hal and now the Campus Erasme.
Inside the Louis Deroubaix Museum of Human Anatomy and Embryology you will find real anatomical preparations. These include plastinated pieces. There are also embryos and fetuses some normal and some with congenital abnormalities. The museum also has pieces of comparative and veterinary anatomy. Wax and plaster anatomical models are on display too. Some items illustrate specific pathologies.
The museum features old models from His-Steger, Tramond, Seifert and Nicolas. You will find modern plastinated specimens. There are anthropological castings and comparative models of teeth castings. A large collection of pathological bones and prostheses is available. Numerous teratologic specimens are analyzed using medical imaging. These specimens show severe abnormal embryological development. Virtual models of these specimens are visible on electronic support. Dissected specimens used in anatomy classes are exhibited. A multimedia room offers computer programs for further research.
Imagine walking through the exhibits. You see skeletons organs and plastinated specimens. These pieces come from humans and animals with comparable anatomy. Wax and plaster representations are also shown. These detailed models offer a unique look at the human body.
The Louis Deroubaix Museum of Human Anatomy and Embryology is more than just a collection of specimens. It is a place of learning and discovery. It allows visitors to explore the intricacies of human anatomy and embryology. It also highlights both the beauty and fragility of the human body.