Bodies Revealed
January 9, 2008 at 2:20 p.m.
Bodies Revealed
By James [email protected]
Going into this exhibit, I knew what to expect for I had been to a much larger one at MOSI in Tampa about a year and a half ago. I knew ahead of time that the exhibit would consist of real human cadavers and every organ of the body that would be preserved by state-of-the-art processes using a special polymer. The specimens on display were preserved by first embalming them to get rid of all body fluids, and then injected with a polymer to brilliantly preserve the specimen. The exhibit showcases nine out of eleven of our body systems, which include: skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory, urinary, digestive, reproductive, and endocrine (hormone producing glands). The only two systems not showcased are the integumentary (skin and hair) and the lymphatic (immune system).
Upon entering the first corridor, visitors are greeted by a cadaver that has been stripped of its skin to reveal its muscular system. Visitors can see in detail all the muscles of the human body and to make this a truly educational experience, everything on this specimen and throughout the exhibit is labeled and accompanied by an explanatory sign. From here there are many glass tables containing more specimens of the muscular as well as the skeletal system, which is toward the end of the room. Visitors can see the complexities of the vertebral column, the hand and the foot, the skeletal system, and much more that deals with the structural build up of our human frame. Upon examining the specimens in this room and throughout the exhibit, it feels like an anatomy textbook has come to life.
Proceeding further into the exhibit you will encounter the nervous system. Each specimen of this system including all bodily nerves as well as the spinal cord and the brain, are brilliantly presented and labeled. It was amazing to see one of the most complex and least known about body systems to be dissected and preserved. I marveled at how the scientists were able to show, on a cadaver, every major nerve in the body. There are many brains to be examined, as well as brains with different disorders, and the exhibit even shows the difference between the brain of an elderly person and a young person.
Continuing further you will encounter each of the remaining body systems. Each one showcases all the organs from that system as well as organs of a healthy and unhealthy nature. This is apparent when you come across a pair of smoker's lungs compared to healthy lungs. Smoker's lungs are 1/3 the size and they are dark black with tar build up everywhere.
For me however, the most fascinating part of the exhibit is the circulatory system room. Here they took a human arm. By injecting a polymer into the blood vessels and dissolving the outer tissues we can view the circulatory system of that appendage. This model gives you a great appreciation for how many vessels and veins carry blood throughout the body.
Finally, there is a room that contains real human embryos and showcases the development of a child from the 8th week up until the 44th week. It is amazing to see how quickly and embryo becomes a fetus, which becomes an infant.
This exhibit will give anyone a greater appreciation for how special and complex the body really is. At first the exhibit is very weird to see because these are real humans, but once you get into it, it is purely fascinating. I recommend that anyone who is even slightly interested go and see this once in a lifetime exhibit. It only takes about an hour and a half to two hours to go through and is worth every penny. You will marvel at how beautiful your body is on the inside.
James Newton is a senior in high school and currently home-schooled through the Florida Virtual School. He has just completed a 2nd year college course in anatomy at Manatee Community College and plans to enter a career as a Physical Therapist.