Body Worlds

Body Worlds (German title: Körperwelten) is a travelling exhibition of preserved human bodies and body parts, prepared with a technique called plastination to reveal inner organs or structures. Its developer and promoter is German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, who invented the plastination technique. The exhibition, first presented in Tokyo in 1995, has been shown in many cities in Europe and Asia; the catalogue for the North American tour of the exhibition, which began in Los Angeles in 2004, claims that more than 15 million people have seen Body Worlds (and a second traveling show, Body Worlds 2) between 1995 and early 2004.

Notable exhibits

The Chess Player

This exhibit shows a man sitting and playing chess, with his brain exposed

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The Basketball Player

The donator of the body for this exhibit had the greatest muscle mass by far, compared to other donators. These muscles are left intact, and the body dribbles a basketball in its right hand. The top of the skull is also separated from the head to reveal the brain underneath.

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The Swimmer

One of the few women featured in the exhibition, the swimmer's body is split in half laterally. The two halves are displayed swimming away from each other.

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The Archer

Another of the women featured in the exhibition, the archer is poised in a crouch after releasing the bow string. Her brain is situated above her skull for easy viewing.

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The Runner

A runner is caught mid-stride with his muscles fanned out to show their complexity.

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The Equestrian

This exhibit features a man riding a horse. Both the man and horse are plastinated, with the man's front and back separated from the rest of his body.

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Winged Man

The muscles of Winged Man are splayed outwards, giving a rough wing-like appearance. Winged Man also wears a Panama hat, and is standing on a continuously rotating platform.

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(Pregnant woman)

One of the more controversial exhibits is an 8-months pregnant woman, laying on her side with her arm propping her upper body up. The bottom of her torso is cut away to reveal a curled fetus inside. A nearby sign states that this woman decided to donate her body and the fetus when she was informed that she had a terminal disease.

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(Blood vessel family)

This exhibit includes a man, a woman, and a child on top of the man's shoulders. These bodies were prepared by injecting a red dye and plastinating agent into their blood vessels, then using chemicals and ultrasound to dissolve away their flesh and bones. As a result, only the circulatory system is left behind.

Related Topics:
Ultrasound - Circulatory system

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