BODY WORLDS Vital: The Gift of Body
BODY WORLDS Vital is the largest exhibit in the history of the South Carolina State Museum and is each day teaching citizens about the wonders of the human body. Each of these real human bodies on display was donated by a willing volunteer who designated prior to death they wished to contribute their body to help others gain better understanding of how humans work.
Currently, the Institute for Plastination has a donor roster of 13,000 individuals, 1,000 are already deceased of which 1,271 are Americans. All of the whole 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 focus on the nature of our bodies, not on providing personal information.
More interesting facts and information about the BODY WORLDS Vital exhibit is available here on the museum website.
Learn more about the fascinating gift of these human bodies that are now on display through April 15: http://www.facebook.com/scstatemuseum
