Plaster
Plaster
Plaster (/ˈplɑːstər/, from Old French plastre, from Latin plastrum, from Greek plastos meaning "molded") is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster is also used in medicine for immobilization of broken bones.
Medical Use
In the medical field, plaster is commonly used in the form of plaster casts. A plaster cast is a circumferential application of plaster bandages. The cast is made by layering plaster bandages, soaked in water, over the area of the body to be immobilized. Once the plaster has dried, it forms a hard, protective shell around the broken bone, keeping it in place while it heals.
Types of Plaster
There are several types of plaster used in both construction and medicine. These include:
- Plaster of Paris: This is a type of plaster made by heating gypsum, a naturally occurring mineral, to a high temperature. The resulting product is a fine white powder. When mixed with water, it forms a paste that hardens quickly. In medicine, plaster of Paris is used to make plaster casts.
- Lime plaster: This is a type of plaster made from lime (calcium hydroxide), sand and water. It is used in construction for coating walls and ceilings.
- Cement plaster: This is a type of plaster made from cement and sand. It is used in construction for coating walls and ceilings.
Related Terms
- Bandage: A piece of material used to support a medical device such as a dressing or splint, or on its own to provide support to the body.
- Orthopedic cast: A shell, frequently made from plaster, encasing a limb to stabilize and hold anatomical structures in place until healing is confirmed.
- Gypsum: A soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, used in plaster of Paris and many other products.
- Calcium hydroxide: A compound used in many applications, including food preparation and construction, where it is known as slaked lime or pickling lime.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Plaster
- Wikipedia's article - Plaster
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