Tracheobronchial cast production and use in an undergraduate human anatomy course

Silastic E RTV silicone was used to produce tracheobronchial cast for use in an undergraduate human anatomy course. Following air-drying, the trachea and lungs were injected with E RTV silicone and allowed to cure for 24 hr. The parenchyma was then removed from the tracheobronchial cast by maceration and boiling and then whitened in a 10% solution of hydrogen peroxide. The result was an anatomical replica that illustrates the branching pattern of the tracheobronchial tree and looks very similar to human even though canine lungs were used. In addition, this cast is very flexible and durable enough to stand up to repeated student handling.