moulages

Moulages are lifelike three-dimensional representations of wounds, injuries, or medical conditions created as teaching aids for medicine, surgery, and forensic science. They are designed to resemble real patients and are used to demonstrate appearances of trauma, burns, skin diseases, ulcers, and other clinical scenarios, aiding diagnosis, treatment planning, and procedural training.

The practice originated in Europe and expanded during the 18th and 19th centuries as a way to standardize medical education. Wax and plaster were common materials, and skilled artists built up realistic injuries and pathological changes for display in medical schools, hospitals, and military teaching facilities. Moulages served as durable, repeatable teaching tools at a time when access to patient variability was limited.

Materials and methods vary, but traditional moulages are sculpted or cast from wax, plaster, papier-mâché, or resin, then layered and painted to reproduce skin tones, textures, and coloration. The process may involve creating a mold, applying materials to form tissue and injuries, adding details such as swelling, blisters, burns, or necrosis, and finishing with a protective coating. In modern practice, silicone, latex, and rapid prototyping techniques are sometimes used, enhancing realism and durability.

Today, moulages remain a specialized component of medical education and museum collections. They support hands-on practice in wound management, triage, forensic pathology, and clinical communication. While less central than in the past, they persist as valuable didactic tools and historical records of medical pedagogy.