Houston News: Human Body Exhibit

A new exhibit is proving that learning anatomy has never been more shocking, reports Houston News.
What you're about to read about has rocked the field of anatomy forever. Real preserved human bodies are on display and just as fascinating is the man behind all of it. Because of the subject matter, we want to warn you this story is graphic, as are the photos. They are skinless, odorless and dry. And they are real. This isn't Halloween. This is 'Bodyworlds,' a traveling human cadaver show that inspires and sometimes stirs up controversy.

"There's definitely an air of weirdness about it," said one person we spoke with who saw the display. To understand the controversial, but wildly popular museum exhibition, we had to come to Heidelberg, Germany. It is the home of its creator, the so-called 'Doctor Death.'
"What do you think about those nicknames?" we asked him.
"Cadaver enthusiast, and TV anatomist, no problem at all," said Dr. Gunther von Hagens.
Though he surrounds himself with it every day, Gunther does not have a fascination with death, only the human body.

"It was never a kind of gory feeling," he said. "It was always a kind of wonder."
Getting rare access, we spent two days with him at his German institute and found the way he lives is just as offbeat as the way he works.

Gunther slices bodies. He does it after he 'plastinates' them, a technique he invented 30 years ago that replaces body fluids with liquid plastic. The plastic is hardened, leaving tissues intact so he can create something detailed or leave bodies whole, as 'plastinates' as he calls them, to highlight disease, muscle, or the nervous system.

"In playing chess, you actually need your nervous system and from the sitting position, you can easily follow the path of the nerves from the brain down to the foot," he said.
An estimated 18 million people worldwide have seen this death on display and many have vowed to changed their lives.

"It would make me think again about the things I eat," said one person who saw the display in Philadelphia. "When you see yourself, your fragility, you see a specimen that actually talks to you. I was what you are. You can become what I am."
Gunther believes his life's calling is clear.

"I opened the people's heart to themselves," he said.
Gunther gets all of his bodies from his body donation program. And you can get your chance. Starting February 25, Bodyworlds 3 opens at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Body donor consent forms will be available there. And don't miss my special, 'Beauty Beneath the Skin.' It's an in-depth look at this eccentric scientist and his pioneering work. You can catch it this Sunday night at 10:35pm.

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