By Corey Elam

The Lexington community can observe what is generally exclusive to members of the medical profession at the “Bodies Revealed” exhibit, which features dissected real-life human bodies.

The exhibit, which opened late September, is the only scientific exhibit of its kind and shows just what makes humans tick.

For more than five years, the exhibit has traveled the nation, giving people everywhere a scientific view of how humans eat, think, hurt and heal.

The exhibit was based in Atlanta, and as it gained momentum and donations, it began traveling and establishing new permanent locations throughout the country.

“The exhibit is meant to help people understand how their bodies work, as well as encourage them to help it,” Jessica Rodiman, the exhibit’s general manager, said. “After the exhibit, we also urge visitors to donate their bodies to study because there are still many things about the human body we don’t understand.”

The Lexington exhibit features 14 full human bodies, none of which are behind a case, so anyone can view them from a preferred distance.

As well as bodies, the exhibit contains most of the bodies’ 200 organs, each with variations. For example, nine different organs in the exhibit have a variation that had been affected by cancer. From thyroids to the brain, visitors can observe what each looks like under multiple health circumstances.

One of the more shocking exhibits is a pair of lungs and a heart from the body of someone who had smoked all his life. Behind the display is a cigarette disposal box for those who wish to quit to avoid the same fate.

Though the display is primarily scientific, the idea of observing dead bodies to learn how living bodies function, hits some visitors close to home.

“I’ve had to go twice now just to get the full spectrum of it,” said visitor Audrey Thompson. “The first time I passed through, the fact that these were real people threw me off. I was so interested in the bodies and their expressions that I didn’t really get to read anything or observe how the systems worked.”

As to the controversy of where the bodies came from and if they were given willingly, Rodiman said Premiere Exhibitions Inc., the company that owns the exhibit, “stands behind the fact that all bodies are donated. There is a lot of paperwork filled out for each donation, but all of that is confidential,” she said. At the end of the exhibit, a statement on the wall reads, “These specimens have been treated with the dignity and respect they so richly deserve.”

“As long as it’s a massive contribution to science like this is, I don’t see a reason to point fingers and name names,” Tom Russakoff, another visitor, said. He added that the fetus and placenta display gives life a much greater meaning.

“We were all at that stage of life once, and it’s worth it to show people how lucky we are just to be here,” he said.

The exhibit is open to the public every weekday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Lexington Civic Center. General public admission is $14, and student admission is $12.50.