Accession No
6191
Brief Description
model of human embryo, second half 20th Century
Origin
Maker
unknown
Class
biology; demonstration; physiology
Earliest Date
1945
Latest Date
1980
Inscription Date
Material
plaster; metal; wood (chipboard; other)
Dimensions
length 450mm; width 220mm; height 140mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased with model Wh. 6192 from Christie’s South Kensington, 85 Brompton Road, London, SW7 3LD. Fine Scientific, Medical and Engineering Works of Art sale. Lot 171. Purchased on or before 17/05/2007.
Inscription
Description Notes
Painted plaster model of early stage in human embryo development; second half 20th century.
White painted human embryo modelled in plaster in relief on black painted wooden chipboard base. Model is bolted onto base using two nuts and bolts that pass into the model.
Martin Johnson (Professor of Reproductive Sciences, Cambridge Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience) has identified the model to be of a human embryo, showing ten somites, approximately 23 days post-conception.
Note on date: Objects are listed as post-1945 due to their mounting on chip-board.
References
Events
Description
This plaster model shows an early stage in the development of a human embryo. Models and drawings are used in developmental biology to compare embryos of different ages and species. Although embryo models have been made since the mid-19th century, this example is much later and dates from the mid- to late- 20th century. The maker is unknown.
In this model, ten pairs of somites are visible. Somites are segments of mesodermal cells, distributed along the length of the embryo during the early stages of its development. The mesodermal cells will go on to form a variety of body components as the human foetus develops, including bones and muscles. Because somites first appear when the embryo is 20 days old, with 3 to 4 pairs added per day, it is possible to estimate that this model represents an embryo that is 23 days post-conception.
18/02/2014
Created by: Ruth Horry, edited by Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 18/02/2014
FM:46659
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