Courtesy The ‘Our Body' exhibit at the Witte Museum exposes the intricate, and kinda gross, innards of the human body.

It's also a little bit gross.

But that may be part of the appeal.

The bodies in the exhibit, which opens at the Witte Museum on Saturday, Jan. 26, have undergone polymer impregnation, in which the fluids have been replaced with liquid plastic that later is hardened. The goal is to teach visitors about the complexity of the human anatomy and its functions.

“Our Body” and similar exhibits, “Body Worlds” and “Bodies, The Exhibition,” have proven to be tremendously popular, drawing record numbers at museums across the country. To prepare for the anticipated crowds, the Witte is offering timed tickets, allowing visitors to reserve admission times.

“It's such a rare opportunity and such a new opportunity to observe what happens inside your own body. It's a privilege to be able to encounter human anatomy in this way,” said Marise McDermott, president and CEO of the Witte. “Here we have public access in a way that allows us to self-learn. The learning curve is so intense for people.”

Twelve bodies and more than 75 anatomical specimens are on display, illustrating the muscular, nervous and digestive systems, as well as others.

Although the bodies are presented in “an artful ..... and dignified environment,” according to the Witte, they're still a bit shocking: Brains sit exposed, raw muscles glisten, nerves dangle. The preservation process leaves even the most delicate tissue intact, making the bodies more realistic than any model.

There is no age requirement to view the exhibit, but the museum advises parental discretion.

The exhibit also includes the lung of a smoker juxtaposed with the lung of a non-smoker to emphasize the consequences of unhealthy actions on the human body.

“To have it right in front of you, it's irrefutable. So we really hope there's some preventative behavior that emerges as a result of this,” McDermott said.
The bodies come from China and were donated to science, McDermott said.