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BODY WORLDS

Te BODY WORLDS exhibitions are a towering achievement in the feld of ana-tomical science and an unprecedented gaze at humanity in all its glory and vul-nerability.

Troughout history, the great anatomists and dissectors of their times — from

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) to An-dreas Vesalius (1514-1564) to Honore Fragonard (1732-1799)—struggled to defend the post-mortal human body against nature’s devouring forces. Tey tried to work against the unrelenting fury of decomposition by accelerating anatomical dissections and working in the cold months.

Tough generations before us wished to be enlightened about the mysteries of the human body, the lack of efective preservation methods prevented them from viewing the post-mortal body in a state that evoked awe and splendor. Anatomists soon learned to preserve the deceased body by drying it, but the resulting dehydrated specimen showed only the sorrow of death.

Until 1977, specimens for anatomi-cal studies were embedded deep within polymer blocks or preserved in formal-dehyde and placed behind glass barriers.

Dr. Gunther von Hagens —the leading public anatomist of our time — in 1977 invented Plastination, the method of halting decomposition of the body and preserving it for all time.

Te resulting specimens, which include dynamic, whole-body plastinates, are unparalleled for their aesthetic and di-dactic value. Te plastinates have been generously willed by donors during their lifetimes for Plastination and display for the purpose of education and enlighten-ment. Te BODY WORLDS exhibitions

are the result of Dr. Gunther von Hagens’ 32 years in the felds of medicine and sci-ence, anatomy and chemistry, dissection, and polymer chemistry.

BODY WORLDS 3 features more than 200 authentic human specimens. Te exhibition includes whole bodies as well as individual organs, tissues, circulatory and nervous systems and transparent body slices. Visitors will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually see in-side the human body, learn how it works and how it can be afected by disease and lifestyle choices, as well as to better un-derstand how artifcial supports work for such joints as knees and hips.

Te Oregon debut of BODY WORLDS 3 opens June 7 for a lim-ited engagement at OMSI. For more information, visit www.omsi.edu or www.bodyworlds.com.

BODY WORLDS

are the result of Dr. Gunther von Hagens’ 32 years in the felds of medicine and sci-ence, anatomy and chemistry, dissection, and polymer chemistry.

BODY WORLDS 3 features more than 200 authentic human specimens. Te exhibition includes whole bodies as well as individual organs, tissues, circulatory and nervous systems and transparent body slices. Visitors will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually see in-side the human body, learn how it works and how it can be afected by disease and lifestyle choices, as well as to better un-derstand how artifcial supports work for such joints as knees and hips.

Te Oregon debut of BODY WORLDS 3 opens June 7 for a lim-ited engagement at OMSI. For more information, visit www.omsi.edu or www.bodyworlds.com.

What is the exhibition all about?

The Kneeling LadY, 2005

While kneeling, the strong gluteal and back muscles prevent the trunk from falling forward. Te two body cavities of the trunk, namely the thoracic and the abdomi-nal cavity, have been opened from the side, enabling us to view the

inner organs.

Portland Tribune & Community Newspapers | June 5, 2007 B O D Y W O R L D S 3 | 7