Questions & Answers

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What is BODY WORLDS?

Who should see BODY WORLDS?

What is BODY WORLDS?

The BODY WORLDS exhibitions are first-of-their-kind exhibitions through which visitors learn about anatomy, physiology, and health by viewing real human bodies, using an extraordinary process called Plastination a groundbreaking method for specimen preservation invented by Dr. von Hagens in 1977.
Each exhibition features more than 200 real human specimens, including whole-body plastinates, individual organs, organ configurations and transparent body slices. The specimens on display stem from the body donation program that Gunther von Hagens established in 1983.
The exhibitions also allow visitors to see and better understand the long-term impact of diseases, the effects of tobacco consumption and the mechanics of artificial supports such as knees and hips. To date, more than 34 million people around the world have viewed the BODY WORLDS exhibits.

Who should see BODY WORLDS?

Anyone interested in learning what makes us human. Adults of all ages and children 8 and older will find the exhibits fascinating. Given the nature of the BODY WORLDS exhibits, it is up to the parents, guardians or school staff to decide whether their children are age appropriate to attend BODY WORLDS.

What is the purpose of the exhibitions?

The BODY WORLDS exhibitions aim to educate the public about the inner workings of the human body and show the effects of poor health, good health and lifestyle choices. They are also meant to create interest in and increase knowledge of anatomy and physiology among the public.

The new BODY WORLDS!
How do the various exhibitions that are being shown differ from each other?

The new BODY WORLDS is a series of curated exhibitions with special focused considerations – on cardiology and the heart (BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart), human development, longevity and aging (BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life), the brain and neuroscience (BODY WORLDS & The Brain) and on the body’s potential and vitality (BODY WORLDS Vital).
The exhibitions show a multitude of brand new plastinates and offer every visitor – even the ardent BODY WORLDS visitor – a fascinating exhibition experience.
The exhibition, BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart, reveals – through the lenses of anatomy, cardiology, psychology, and culture—how the heart nourishes, regulates, and sustains life.
The heart is the steadfast engine of our life. Due to this continuous strain it is also susceptible to wear and tear and to dysfunctions. Diseases of the cardiovascular system are the leading cause of death today. The exhibition also highlights other facets of this vital organ. In religion, art, literature, and pop culture, the heart is seen as a symbol of love, compassion, happiness, and courage.
The exhibition gives visitors profound insight into the human body, health and disease, and the intricate world of the cardiovascular system.
BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life features a special presentation on the human life cycle and ageing – from prenatal development and infancy, to childhood and adolescence, to youth, adulthood, and old age. It shows the body living through time – at its most radiant, and as it changes, grows, matures, peaks, and finally wanes. The exhibition shows the complexity, resilience, and vulnerability of the human body through anatomical studies of the body in distress, disease, and optimal health. Visitors to The Cycle of Life will witness the arc of ageing – the body living through the span of time – from the spark of conception to old age, refracted through the latest findings in longevity and ageing science.
All BODY WORLDS exhibitions generally present different plastinates, which is most evident in the whole-body plastinates which each vary in pose and display.
BODY WORLDS & The BRAIN – Our Three Pound Gem a journey through the wonder of the brain features the latest neuroscience findings on brain development and function; brain disease and disorders; and brain performance and improvement. The exhibition presents a holistic meditation on the brain that merges anatomy, neuroscience, and philosophy that resonates with everyone.
Highlights include an exploration of how the brain develops through time-lapsed MRI's of the brain from childhood through adolescence; an exploration of the circulatory system and the brain's influence on the body; how a brain with Alzheimer's looks physically and a deep dissection of the nervous system, and much more. BODY WORLDS & The Brain presents the human body and brain in an amazing anatomical and evolutionary way.
BODY WORLDS Vital, is the latest chapter in the new BODY WORLDS.
Vital presents a specially curated collection of key specimens designed to show visitors the essentials for human health and wellness. The exhibition is comprised of whole body plastinates and a large arrangement of individual organs, organ and arterial configurations and translucent slices that give a complete picture of how the human body functions. Vital tells the compelling story of how best to defeat life-threatening diseases – such as cancer, diabetes and heart ailments – through informed choices and lifestyle changes.
All BODY WORLDS exhibitions generally present different plastinates, which is most evident in the whole-body plastinates which each vary in pose and display.

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Couldn’t I learn just as much from books or models of human anatomy?

Real human bodies show the details of disease and anatomy that cannot be shown with models. They also allow us to understand how each body has its own unique features, even on the inside. Visitors are drawn to real specimens in a way that they are not to plastic models. One of the special features of museums and science centres is that they offer people a chance to see the real thing in a safe and informative environment.

What is Plastination?

Invented by scientist and anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, Plastination is the groundbreaking method of halting decomposition and preserving anatomical specimens for scientific and medical education. Plastination is the process of extracting all bodily fluids and soluble fat from specimens, replacing them through vacuum forced impregnation with reactive resins and elastomers, and then curing them with light, heat, or certain gases, which give the specimens rigidity and permanence.

Where did the specimens on display come from? Will we know who the plastinates are or how they died?

The BODY WORLDS exhibitions rely on the generosity of body donors; individuals who bequeathed that, upon their death, their bodies could be used for educational purposes in the exhibitions. Currently, the Institute for Plastination has a donor roster of 8000 individuals, 490 are already deceased.
All of the full-body plastinates and the majority of the specimens are from these body donors; some specific specimens that show unusual conditions come from old anatomical collections and morphological institutes. As agreed upon by the body donors, their identities and causes of death are not provided. The exhibitions focuse on the nature of our bodies, not on providing personal information.

Why are the plastinates posed the way they are?

The poses of the plastinates have been carefully thought out and serve educational aims. Each plastinate is posed to illustrate different anatomical features. For instance, the athletic poses illustrate the use of muscle systems while playing sports. The poses allow the visitor to relate the plastinate to his or her own body.

Will I be able to touch any of the plastinates?

While you will be able to get very close to the plastinates, as a rule, visitors are not allowed to touch them. At a certain area in the exhibition, however, visitors have the option of touching a select group of plastinated organs to better understand both the human anatomy and the process of Plastination.

Are these exhibitions appropriate for children?

More than 34 million people, including young children, have viewed the BODY WORLDS exhibitions around the world. It is important to note that the exhibition includes full-body plastinates with exposed genitals. We recommend the BODY WORLDS exhibits for school groups in Grades 5 and up.

What educational materials is BODY WORLDS providing?

Teachers will wish to prepare both their students and their adult supervisors carefully for their BODY WORLDS experience. Therefore BODY WORLDS has created appropriate educational guides for different grades to the exhibits. Moreover most museums do offer preview opportunities so that teachers can see the exhibitions free of charge before bringing their classes to it.

Why is it important for the public to see these exhibits?

We believe that when people understand more about how the body works and how it can break down, they are more likely to choose healthy and sustainable lifestyles. We also hope it will inspire visitors to learn more about the life sciences. Knowledge about what the human body looks like and how it functions is basic life science information that should be available to everyone.

Why are there not more women plastinates in the exhibits?

Sensitive to perceived community concerns, Dr. von Hagens did not want to appear voyeuristic in revealing too many female bodies. Further, he sees himself in the tradition of Renaissance anatomists, whose works traditionally included far more masculine than feminine bodies, since all but the reproductive systems are essentially the same. The musculature of male bodies is generally more pronounced and illustrates more aspects of the muscle system. The organs on display come primarily from the female body donors. However, since opening the exhibits, Dr. von Hagens has received numerous requests from women visitors to see more examples of female anatomy. Based on this, Dr. von Hagens has already added and will add more female plastinates to future exhibits.

Are there animals in the BODY WORLDS exhibitions, as well?

All BODY WORLDS exhibitions have a few animal specimens on display, for example the "Rearing Horse with Rider", a giraffe, or blood vessel configurations of a rabbit or a rooster. Due to the great popularity of the animal plastinates, Dr. Gunther von Hagens was encouraged to create the new BODY WORLDS of Animals. In 2010, the Plastinator presented the new exhibition, BODY WORLDS of Animals. The display is a holistic and sculptural anatomical menagerie, featuring the most revered species in the animal kingdom. Better than any textbook, this fascinating exhibition shows the complex, intricate biology of the natural world's most remarkable creatures, and the evolutionary intelligence of their nervous system, bones, muscles, and organs. The exhibition also allows a peek under the elephant's skin. Its trunk with a network of 40,000 muscles is a feat of design excellence, as well as virtuosity. And who would have known that a giraffe uses its 50-centimetre-long bluish tongue like a hand? BODY WORDLS of Animals' didactical approach is particularly suitable for young visitors. For more information: www.BodyWorldsOfAnimals.com.

Is there an audio tour?

Audio Guides are offered for an additional fee. The audio tours are designed for the layman. They are available in English and other languages. Personally guided tours through the exhibit are unavailable at this time.

How long can I stay inside the exhibits?

You can stay as long as you like. But we recommend allowing yourself about one to two hours. The length of time will vary on how long each visitor wishes to examine each specimen and read the information provided. An audio tour will increase your time in the exhibits.

Can I take photographs or film in the exhibitions?

Photography and filming, including pictures taken with cell phones, are not allowed in the BODY WORLDS exhibitions, except by accredited members of the media.

Are food and drink permitted in BODY WORLDS?

Just as in the rest of the Science Museums hosting the BODY WORLDS exhibits, food and drink are not permitted in the exhibit galleries. The policy helps to protect the artifacts from the museums' collections, as well as the BODY WORLDS plastinates.