Hold a beating holographic heart in the palm of your hand. Perform virtual cardiac surgery – the slightest touch of your fingers will determine the patient’s outcome – in the Ernest G. DeBakey Virtual Surgery. Seal blood vessels with laser beam technology. Discover the everyday miracles our bodies perform in the most advanced human health hall in the United States, My BodyWorks. The Exploreum’s NEW 6,500 square foot gallery is packed with leading-edge exhibits, including a 12-foot tall realistic beating heart and a fully functioning health and biology lab where visitors can perform experiments and learn more about the science of life.

My BodyWorks
Presented by Infirmary Health System
Opening January 19, 2009

The Exploreum is proud to present its newest permanent exhibit gallery, My BodyWorks! The gallery incorporates the latest computing and digital imaging technologies to educate students in a wide range of health and biology topics. My BodyWorks helps every student learn

• How his or her body systems function
• How personal decisions about diet and exercise influence health
• About the many career opportunities in the health-science field

My Beating Heart
An illuminated “beating” heart model, 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide, with streams of “blood” flowing through major arteries and veins will illustrate how the cardiac muscle works.

Two or three times per hour, the wail of sirens and flash of lights will signal that a heart attack has occurred and emergency medical attention is required.

From Head to Toe
Using a movable viewing screen, or “I-Wall,” students will scan realistic, full-color, life-sized images of five human systems: Skeletal, Muscular, Respiratory and Circulatory, Nervous, Digestive. Students can also access over 25 education animations that delve deeper into each topic.

The Ernest G. DeBakey Virtual Operating Room
Students become surgeons and perform simulated surgical procedures such as

• Heart by-pass
• Knee replacement
• Sealing blood vessels within the eye

BeHealthy
Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the gallery will house 12 BeHealthy exhibits that allow students to measure their health and fitness and assess their daily diet choices. Activities include recording blood pressure, testing strength and measuring total calories consumed daily.

On leaving the gallery, students can print out their personalized BeHealthy profile to take home for later review.

Biology Lab
This fully functioning health and biology laboratory will offer role-playing opportunities for students, using real tools and protocols of medicine and biological sciences.

Table top experiments will allow students to learn and hone their laboratory skills.

Students will also enjoy exciting 5-10 minute demonstrations that cover a variety of life science and biological topics.