Body Worlds is an anatomy exhibit that travels the world. The exhibition, which has a very different style from normal museums, is an extraordinary museum where real cadavers are used. Body Worlds, a world-famous exhibition; It was opened for the first time in 1995, and after its opening, it has reached more than 44 million visitors in 4 continents.
This exhibition on the anatomy of the human body was created by Dr. It was discovered by Gunther von Hagens. The exhibition was opened to visitors in Istanbul in 2010, reaching 400 thousand visitors in 9 months, breaking a record in Turkey. It is a cadaver museum that must be seen with its extraordinary style.
German scientist and anatomist Dr. Bodies are rendered incorruptible by the “plastination” method by Gunter Von Hagens. The exhibition, which includes more than 200 human bodies, reveals the body’s resistance and vulnerability in cases of suffering, illness and health. Numerous animal bodies are also on display.
Preparing the Dead Bodies for the Exhibition
Body Worlds exhibits the cadavers of people who donated their bodies after they died. The bodies are made ready by applying the plastination technique, a method developed in 1977. With this method, steps such as filling, vacuuming and hardening are carried out.
The bodies brought to the laboratory for the application of the method consist of people who died 2-3 days ago. The first treatment done to dead bodies is the application of formalin to stop decay. Formalin method is a toxic chemical used as a protective liquid and sterilizer applied in medical laboratories.
After the formalin treatment, the body is subjected to a decomposition process that can take weeks. In the separation process, muscles, bones, vessels and even nerves are separated from the body with great care. After separation, the bodies are dried in acetone and the acetones are withdrawn from the body with a vacuum pump.
Prepared bodies are created in different poses in order to be exhibited. While creating the poses, the people or organs to be exhibited are fixed with wire needles and staples. After the body is finalized, it is solidified using gas and heat. Oils and similar fluids found in the body are completely cleaned and replaced with liquid plastics. This ensures that the bodies are preserved for a long time. All these processes take about two to three years.
All the procedures performed are actually the methods used in anatomy lessons. Since the bodies that have been applied the plastination method do not have any negative aspects, they can be held and felt by medical and anatomy students without gloves. Body Worlds, where real bodies are on display, looks pretty scary. The exhibition is exhibited through a concept determined in the countries where it will be held. There are exhibitions on animal bodies, sports, happiness or sex. Body Worlds offers the opportunity to examine the human body, nervous system, body parts and organs very closely.
