Body Worlds

WOW. If you ever get the chance to see this exhibit, do not miss it, it is fascinating. Preserved and then flayed, sliced and exploded bodies and body parts give you a great look at the inner workings of the human body. And not just humans, although that is far and away the bulk of the show. There was a full-size camel with a baby camel, a young filly, and a lamb. There are simultaneous exhibits going on, and many, many more specimens that travel (or not) to various locations, so the exhibit is a bit different in each city. If you want to donate your body, you can.

There were many tales of caution, as seen in blackened and cancerous smoker's lungs, enlarged hearts, tumor-filled organs, and hardened arteries. Just look at this image and tell me you don't want to watch your weight. The fat guy died at 50 when his enlarged heart couldn't take any more.

Many of the bodies are in athletic poses, and you can see how the muscles stretch to allow people to do what they do. Amazing stuff. There is a woman who was five months pregnant at the time of her death, with the fetus still inside her. There are bodies of just the nerves, or of the heart and arteries. There are cases of body parts, both whole, laid open, and sliced. They had the three tiny bones from an ear canal. It's a great show for anyone who wants to learn about the body. You get a real appreciation for just how remarkable a body is, not to mention how specialized. I think this pose might suit me!

After we bought ourselves some souvenirs (you *knew* I wasn't leaving without the t-shirt of the bunny's circulatory system, didn't you?) we went to the butterfly room. I'll leave you with a nice big beautiful moth!