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‘Bodies Revealed’ Opens North American Debut in Sacramento
Dr. Roy Glover, anatomist and cell biologist with one of the displays he created
through polymer preservation.
By Mia Smitt
Premier
Exhibition, Inc. announced that Bodies Revealed, a groundbreaking
exhibition featuring real human bodies, made its North American debut
on December 1 in Sacramento and will stay at its present location
until March 31, 2008.
This world-famous anatomical exhibition features real, whole and partial body
specimens that have been meticulously dissected and preserved through an innovative
process, giving visitors the opportunity to view the complexity of their own
organs and systems like never before.
The stated purpose of the exhibit is to help people learn more about their bodies
and possibly take better care of themselves. Positive lifestyle choices are clearly
defined when a healthy heart and lungs are placed next to diseased organs.
The differences are startling, especially knowing these specimens are real. Near
one particular display there is a glass case with an open slot for people to
drop their cigarettes into. There are many packs left behind by the end of each
day.
Katherine Morgenstern, director of public relations for Premier Exhibitions,
said, “My favorite part of the whole show is seeing people’s reactions
to the exhibit. Everyone is touched by something different.”
Bodies Revealed is an amazing and truly fascinating presentation of the inner
workings of the human body. These are not reproductions or artificial models
but real human bodies that have been carefully preserved through a process called
polymer preservation.
Human tissue is permanently preserved using liquid silicone rubber that is treated
and hardened. The body becomes rubberized down to the cellular level, and the
complex structures of bones, blood vessels, nerves, organs, digestive tract,
reproductive system and muscles become vividly visible.
The bodies have very little skin to better illustrate internal structures. Many
are posed in everyday activities such as running or playing a violin. These bodies
could possibly frighten young children, but with a parent or teacher this is
an excellent teaching opportunity.
There are nine galleries in the exhibit, each dedicated to a different aspect
of the human body and its various physical systems.
Roy Glover Ph.D., medical director and spokesman for Bodies Revealed, is an anatomist
and cell biologist. He taught for 30 years at the University of Michigan Medical
School where he also developed and ran the University of Michigan’s Polymer
Preservation Laboratory. This laboratory is one of a very few capable of providing
polymer preserved bodies for medical study and scientific research.
“We are in the business of making strong health-supportive statements,” said
Dr. Glover. “I hope that people will become more conscious of their bodies
and seek regular check ups to become aware of any silent illnesses.”
He told of a 9-year-old girl who saw a similar show with a school group in Atlanta.
“She was so impressed with the diseased lungs that she e-mailed me with
questions about smoking, the effects of secondhand smoke and how she might convince
her Dad to stop smoking. I suggested that she make a 6 month contract – that
she wouldn’t annoy him about it of he smoked outside only,” said
Glover.
“Six months later, she wrote again telling of the success, so I sent her
family tickets to an exhibit. A few months later, she sent me a picture of her
family with a big sign saying that they were smoke-free. I see that as a positive
lifestyle choice made after seeing firsthand what poor choices can do,” he
said.
Beside each exhibit is information as to how the structure functions and interesting
facts about each body part. Examples include facts such as if the blood vessels
in an average human body were stretched out, they would wrap around the earth
twice. And nerves transmit messages to and from the body and brain at about 200
miles per hour.
Bodies Revealed has been on tour in Europe and South America. Sacramento was
chosen for its United States debut because the area is a top market in strong
health education, said Glover.
Bodies Revealed is currently on exhibit until March 31, 2008 at 2040 Alta Arden
in Sacramento (the former Comp USA building) from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The
senior ticket price is $22. Adults 13-64 are $24, and for children 4-12, the
cost is $12. Rates for schools and other educational groups are available. For
more information call (888) 263-4379 or log on to www.bodiesrevealed.com.
This page and its contents ©2007
Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
