Blechschmidt Collection

The Blechschmidt Collection comprises hundreds of human embryos and foetuses, as well as life-size embryo models that are unique worldwide. The specimens in the human embryology collection formed the basis for the scientific work of the anatomist Erich Blechschmidt (1904–1992), who was Director of the Institute of Anatomy at the University of Göttingen from 1942 to 1973. Of particular international renown are the 61 large-scale replicas of human embryos, which are still on display at the Centre for Anatomy today.

Between August 2017 and July 2019, a research project systematically investigated the origin of a total of 430 series of histological sections of human embryos and foetuses from the ‘Blechschmidt Human Embryological Documentation Collection’.

The aim of the project was to comprehensively document and critically evaluate the provenance, acquisition, integration and scientific use of the specimens.

The project was carried out by Dr Michael Markert.