Gross Tissue Weights in the Human Body By Cadaver Dissection

Document Type

Article

Authors

J P. Clarys, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
A D. Martin, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
D T. Drinkwater, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada

Abstract

Twenty-five cadavers were completely dissected and skin, adipose tissue, muscle and skeleton were weighed. The sample ranged in age from 55-94 years and consisted of 12 embalmed (6 male, 6 female) and 13 unembalmed (6 male, 7 female) Belgian subjects. Females had more dissectable adipose tissue (40.5% of body weight) than males (28.1%). The mean composition of the adipose-tissue-free weight (analogous to lean body weight) for all cadavers was: skin, 8.5% (S.D. 1.2%); muscle, 50.0% (4.4%); bone, 20.6% (2.6%). These figures are compared to existing dissection data from the 19th and 20th century literature.

Recommended Citation

Clarys, J P.; Martin, A D.; and Drinkwater, D T. (1984) "Gross Tissue Weights in the Human Body By Cadaver Dissection," Human Biology: Vol. 56: Iss. 3, Article 7.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol56/iss3/7