The etching stage of the corrosive preparation is a crucial element of creating a high quality anatomical specimen, which can be a source of scientific knowledge and support the teaching process. Nowadays, thermal techniques such as microwave cooking, enzymatic corrosion, and chemical corrosion are used. Living organisms can also be used for tissue maceration. Interactions between the corrosive substance and the filler carry a risk of failure; thus, choosing the correct method is key to the success of this technique. In this paper, we have reviewed the latest literature in order to present the strengths and weaknesses of currently used corrosion techniques. We proposed a definition of an ideal corrosive medium and compared the available techniques of etching corrosive preparations with a hypothetical perfect medium.
Keywords: corrosion; corrosive cast specimen; etching; maceration.