Tag Archives: handmade anatomy

Teratoma

I’ve been making Teratoma Tumors  for about 5 or so years.  They are a something that I find both fascinating and horrifying.  Browsing Teratoma images online is not something I recommend or like to do.  It is confronting to see so many babies with Teratoma’s.

Teratoma’s often sell to young women who have had one found on there ovary, a very common place for a teratoma.

From Wikipaedia “Teratomas belong to a class of tumors known as nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (N.S.G.C.T.). All tumors of this class are the result of abnormal development of pluripotent cells: germ cells and embryonal cells.”

You can read a little more about the link between the teratoma and the parasitic twin below.

From Wikipaedia

Fetus in fetu and fetiform teratoma

Fetus in fetu and fetiform teratoma are rare forms of mature teratoma that include one or more components resembling a malformed fetus. Both forms may contain or appear to contain complete organ systems, even major body parts such as torso or limbs. Fetus in fetu differs from fetiform teratoma in having an apparent spine and bilateral symmetry.[12]

Most authorities agree that fetiform teratomas are highly developed mature teratomas; the natural history of fetus in fetu is controversial.[12] There also may be a cultural difference, with fetiform teratoma being reported more often in ovarian teratomas (by gynecologists) and fetus in fetu being reported more often in retroperitoneal teratomas (by general surgeons). Fetus in fetu has often been interpreted as a fetus growing within its twin. As such, this interpretation assumes a special complication of twinning, one of several grouped under the term parasitic twin. In this regard, it is noteworthy that in many cases the fetus in fetu is reported to occupy a fluid-filled cyst within a mature teratoma.[13][14][15][16] Cysts within mature teratoma may have partially developed organ systems; reports include cases of partial cranial bones, long bones and a rudimentary beating heart.[17][18]

Regardless of whether fetus in fetu and fetiform teratoma are one entity or two, they are distinct from and not to be confused with ectopic pregnancy.

Pituitary Gland

This Pituitary Gland in a jar has been in and out of my Etsy store for quite some time.  Years ago it was in there with the original photos and just hung around, and then it was out of my store for a while waiting to have new photos taken and lazy me never did. I’ve only ever sold one.

I remember making the Pituitary because I got a “convo” (the Etsy speak for a message within Etsy) asking me to make one.  In the early days I would make anything and everything people suggest without taking an order or getting them to pay as it was a great way to get ideas for new pieces.  (This is also why a thymus is sitting my shop.)

What I love about the way  I have made the pituitary is the red and blue threads.  I’ve almost always used the same shades of blue and red, I’d sometimes pick up a different shade but also return to my same favourite DMC colours.

Anyhooters, after finding this guy again I’ve also decided to make a brooch.  I find myself getting back into making and experimenting with anatomy again after going on a bit of a journey off my path.  Not that taking a detour here and there isn’t useful!

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Ovaries in a Jar are back!

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I forgot all about Ovaries in a Jar! I really dropped the Ovary on that one! But now the Ovaries are in my Etsy shop in a cute little jar.  They’ve been away since 2012.
I’ve also been thinking that I need to make the anatomy to suit the jar, not make the anatomy and try find a jar.  I don’t want to keep buying jars when I have so many available to me already (I also collect them for Terrarium Workshops).

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