Staying Hydrated - A Comparative Analysis of Humectants in Human Cadaveric Tissue

Oct 15, 2026

Humectants help attract and retain water within cells and, when mixed with water for wetting solutions, reduce desiccation of cadaveric specimens. A wet-dry analysis compared four common humectants—2-phenoxy ethanol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol—across multiple human cadaveric tissues using concentration gradients to find optimal water retention. Under standardized conditions, 13–15% glycerol produced the highest retained moisture. The study fills a gap in anatomical preservation guidance, supporting evidence-based selection of humectants for better cadaver quality and educational outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH EDUCATOR Journal of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society Volume 29, Issue 4 | December, 2025 [https://doi.org/10.21692/haps.2025.023](https://doi.org/10.21692/haps.2025.023) Staying Hydrated-A Comparative Analysis of Humectants in Human Cadaveric Tissue Rachel Prince BS, Joseph R. Monsen BS, Zak Webber BS, Ayden L. Olsen BA, Tanner Nelson BS, Craig J. Reeves BS, Jason S. Adams PhD Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA Corresponding author: [Jason_adams@byu.edu](Jason_adams@byu.edu) Abstract Humectants are an important class of compounds that attract and retain water within cells. When humectants are mixed with water to create wetting solutions, they prevent desiccation of cadaveric specimens. Recognizing a relative scarcity of comparative studies analyzing the effectiveness of various wetting solutions on post-preservation cadaveric maintenance, we utilized wet-dry analysis in order to compare the effects of four common humectants (2-phenoxy ethanol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol) on water retention in human cadaveric brain, cardiac muscle, liver, lung, skeletal muscle, and skin tissue. We created a concentration gradient for each humectant to identify the optimal concentration of each compound for water retention. Afterward, we directly compared water retention at the optimal concentrations of each humectant under standardized conditions. Through this simple assay, we showed that all types of cadaveric tissues submerged in concentrations of 13-15% glycerol resulted in the most retained moisture. This study addresses a significant gap in the scientific literature regarding the use of humectants in anatomical preservation. Our results will provide anatomy educators and lab technicians with evidence-based guidance for selecting the most effective humectants for their preservation needs, contributing to improved cadaver quality and educational outcomes. [https://doi.org/10.21692/haps.2025.023](https://doi.org/10.21692/haps.2025.023) [Key words:](Key words: humectant)[ humectant](Key words: humectant), cadaver, tissue, anatomy, preservation Introduction Teaching anatomy courses are a central element of learning in medical training programs including those for physicians, physician assistants, medical scientists, nurses, and anatomists (Memon, 2018) . Although cadaveric dissection is still considered the ‘gold-standard’ of anatomy learning, there has been a decrease in body donation due to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced interest indonation (Bagian et al., 2024; Manzanares-Cespedes et al., 2021; Rokade & Gaikawad, 2012; Saw, 2018). Additionally, the field has evolved to include alternative methods to ultimately reduce the need for cadavers (Burr et al., 2019; Dissabandara et al., 2015; Estai & Bunt, 2016; McBride & Drake, 2018; Simpson, 2014; Thompson & Marshall, 2019; Zargaran et al., 2020). These changes have occurred due to the development of teaching resources such as virtual simulation, anatomy applications, plastination, permanently preserved prosections, and imaging technologies such as ultrasound, computer-based learning, and virtual reality simulations (Estai & Bunt, 2016; Ghosh, 2016; Said Ahmed, 2023; Zargaran et al., 2020) . However, reports show that many schools, after shifting away from dissection-based anatomical education, have reimplemented the use of cadaver labs after only a short time (Ghosh, 2016; Memon, 2018). This shift likely represents learning benefits from cadaver-based anatomy that has yet to be overcome by these noteworthy innovations. Cadaver use in anatomy labs has also decreased due to the difficulty and cost of obtaining, preparing, and maintaining specimens (Richardson et al., 2021; Riederer, 2016; Varner et al., 2021) . In addition, recent complications resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic introduced a multitude of novel challenges to the anatomical d

FAQs

What was the main goal of this study on humectants?

To compare how four humectants affect water retention in human cadaveric tissues using wet-dry analysis under standardized conditions.

Which humectants were evaluated?

2-phenoxy ethanol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol were tested.

What concentration of glycerol showed the best moisture retention?

Submerging cadaveric tissues in 13–15% glycerol resulted in the most retained moisture.

Oct 15, 2026

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