Posted on Sun Feb 3, 10:15 PM in Museums
Finding out what you’re made of
The SO and I went to see the Body Worlds exhibit at the MPM this afternoon, with Kat, Brian, and some other friends. We figured there would be fewer crowds with only hours to spare before the Super Bowl, and for the most part, crowds were thin.
In addition to the plastinated bodies, there were cases of individual bones, organs, glands, and assorted parts. They positioned healthy specimens next to unhealthy ones. They showed what diseases look like inside the body.
Of the plastinated entire bodies, there were a couple I really enjoyed seeing. One was called “The Chess Player” which was positioned leaning over a chess board. From the back, you could see the body had been prepared with the removal the spinal column, but with all nerves and muscles intact. It was, in my opinion, a great testimony to why chiropractic treatment works, showing the interconnectedness of the spinal cord and all the branching nerves. Another one I liked was the reclining pregnant woman. I never really could picture how a fetus fits into a body and what that means to the other internal organs; this display showed it all quite clearly and made me realize, even more than I imagined, how cramped everything is during pregnancy. On the other hand, there was also a display of the women’s reproductive system, showing the uterus; after having gone through many health classes and having had to draw “maps” of all the parts, I never realized how tiny an organ that is, especially considering how big it can get while carrying a fetus. There was also a plastinated display of a horse and rider, comparing the similarities and differences in muscle and skeletal structure.
On the walls was a nice history of anatomy. I found out that the father of modern anatomy, Andreas Vesalius, spent many years disproving the “work” of the ancient physician, Galen, before writing his book, De Humani Corporis Fabrica, at the ripe old age of 28. Damn!
At the end of the exhibit, a relatively new specimen was on display. Apparently the technique for plastinizing fatty tissue had not been perfected until a couple years ago. As a result, there was now a cross section of an obese body, showing a very visible layer of fat surrounding the organs, muscles, and skeleton. It made for a more direct message than “Eat well and exercise” could ever.
I liked the chess player and rearing horse as well – as Tony and I saw this exhibit a few years ago in Chicago. The family of all veins, nerves or something similar and branchy was interesting as well.
I’ve been thinking about going to it again, as it really was fascinating. Really, the only drawback was not wanting to eat beef jerky ever again.
Jealous!!!!! Hisssssssss.