FAQ

A: The Human Body Exhibition features the entire anatomy of real human bodies, dissected and preserved to showcase each system of the body. For hundreds of years only members of the medical community have seen and studied the human body in this way. The purpose of displaying the human anatomy in such a compelling manner is to inspire young people to pursue careers in health, science, and medicine and to educate all visitors about the care and function of their own bodies. You will be able to look inside the body and see first-hand how poor health affects us and how healthy lifestyle choices protect us. Everyone will be amazed to learn about this miracle we call The Human Body.

A: Each of the nine galleries in The Human Body Exhibition focuses on a specific system of the body, starting with your Skeletal System, progressing through Muscular, Nervous, Circulatory, Digestive, Reproductive and Urinary, and ending with a look at the human body of the future. There is also an optional gallery highlighting the chronological development of embryos to fetuses. You move through the Exhibition on an unforgettable walking journey of your own body.

A: The Human Body Exhibition features over 200 full body and individual organs from each system of the body.

A: Plastination is a scientific process that has been developed and refined over the past 30 years. This innovative technique permanently preserves human tissue using liquid silicone rubber, halting the natural process of decay and allowing these specimens to be studied for an indefinite period of time.

A: Skilled, experienced anatomists first treat each specimen with chemicals to stop further decay. Then they carefully dissect it to highlight a specific system or organ of the body. Next, all of the water is removed from the specimen and replaced with acetone. Placing the specimen in a liquid silicone mixture, known as polymer, and then sealing it inside of a vacuum chamber allows the acetone to become a gas. The acetone gas is replaced with the polymer to a cellular level. The silicone polymer hardens and the result is a dry, odorless, permanently preserved specimen that doesn't contain any toxic chemicals.

Preparation time can take from one week for a small, individual organ to a full year for a whole body specimen.

A: All of the specimens in The Human Body Exhibition are legally donated through an organized government process and designated to be used only for education purposes in public exhibitions and institutions of higher learning. The individual identities and ages are unknown. All have died of natural causes. This Exhibition is dedicated to treating these specimens with the utmost dignity and respect. When no longer used for education, they will be cremated.

A: The full body specimens in The Human Body Exhibition are posed specifically to illustrate their physiological features and how they function during common activities. In the Muscular Gallery, for example, you will notice the intricacies of how your body works while playing sports.

A: We recommend that children under the age of 10 attend the Exhibition with a teacher or parent so that they can best understand what they are seeing and have their questions answered individually by someone they trust. Younger children are fascinated by their own bodies. They readily relate to the whole body specimens as they look intently for their own heart, their own stomach and their own muscles.

A: Yes. Teachable moments abound inside the galleries of this Exhibition. Lower Secondary Students and Upper Secondary Students will see their science, anatomy, health, and biology classroom lessons come alive as they study each system of the body from the inside out. Post Secondary Students and Adults in the fields of health and wellness, medicine, massage therapy, acupuncture, nursing, radiology, sports medicine, respiratory therapy, art and the human form will all find this Exhibition relevant to their studies. We expect a large number of school groups to attend the Exhibition so it is necessary to book attendance dates and times in advance. For more details and to schedule a field trip, please contact noel@mcd.ie.