Highlights of the UCL Pathology Museum

Information about the UCL Pathology Museum's collections and research.

Sensitive images

Please note that these pages contain images of human remains. We acknowledge that it is likely that the people represented in our collections did not consent for their remains to be retained.

Wax models

Wax models have a long history of use in medical education.

The first case of nephro-lithotomy

Nephrolithotomy is a surgical procedure that removes kidney stones from the kidney.

A piece of bone removed by pioneering surgeon, Robert Liston

Robert Liston’s surgical case

Robert Liston was a pioneering surgeon and the first Professor of Clinical Surgery at University College Hospital (UCH).

Fracture of the odontoid process caused by a bullet (bullet visible top left)

‘The Foley Place Tragedy’

Fracture of the odontoid process caused by a bullet, from an 1855 murder case.

Toy car belonging to a child with pica

A toy car that has had its paint eaten away by the owner.

oesophagus and heart specimen with damage caused by a sword

Sword swallower’s heart and oesophagus

This specimen is the oesophagus and heart of a sword swallower who died in a sword swallowing accident.

Pulmonary embolism

This specimen is a heart that has been opened to reveal the pulmonary embolism that caused the patient’s death.

Deformed thorax and curved spine

This specimen shows the deformed thorax and curved spine of a child suffering from rickets.

A larynx that has been obstructed by a piece of pork chop

Choking larynx

This specimen shows a larynx that has been fully obstructed by a large piece of pork chop.

Club foot

This plaster cast from Great Ormond Street Hospital shows an example of extreme congenital talipes equino-varus, or club foot.