The individuals on whom the demonstration
was performed had, before their death, enrolled on von Hagens’
body donor programme and consented to the use of their bodies for
public education in anatomy, including public demonstration. Plaster
masks were placed over the faces to preserve anonymity.
The theme of this dissection was reproduction.
Dr von Hagens revealed the organs that carry a
sperm from its origin in the testis, through many metres of convoluted
tubing and into the female genital tract.
The dissection, especially of the male genital
tract, is challenging because many of the tubes are small and hidden
within the bony walls of the pelvis. The dissection involved cutting
through the bones of the pelvis in just the right place to keep
the relevant organs in tact.
Once in the female genital tract, the sperm must
use its own energy to swim through the cervix and uterus, until
it meets an egg (or ovum) in the fallopian tube near the ovary.
Once fertilisation takes place, the sperm and
ovum are replaced by a zygote, which has the potential to form a
human foetus. The zygote moves to the uterus where it develops into
a baby. Finally, the baby passes through the birth canal into the
outside world eventually to begin the whole cycle again.
This body was preserved with a chemical
known as formalin, which was injected into the blood vessels. This
sterilises the body and stiffens the tissues, allowing for demonstration
of delicate structures such as the reproductive organs.
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