Best Anatomy Class Ever!
Presented at the Canadian Museum of Nature and for the first time in Canada, this unforgettable exhibition
leads you on a unique exploration of what lies beneath the surface of many amazing animals, large and
small.
Thanks to Plastination, you can examine the intricate biology (blood vessels, muscles, skeletons and
internal organs) of certain mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates. Anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens
(BODY WORLDS' creator) invented the ground-breaking process of Plastination.
Among the full body plastinates you will see are a giraffe, camel, ostrich, octopus, giant squid and many
other creatures. With more than 100 specimens, this is the most fascinating anatomy lesson imaginable!
Teaching Strategies for Animal Inside Out
Animal Inside Out is an amazing exhibition for educators to use as a teaching tool and for students to make
meaningful connections with classroom materials in an informal setting.
What is the purpose of the exhibition?
The purpose of Animal Inside Out is to inspire a deeper appreciation and respect for the animal world. The
exhibition will allow visitors the unique opportunity to explore the intricate biology and physiology of
some of the world’s most spectacular creatures.
Is this exhibition appropriate for children?
Animal Inside Out was designed for visitors of all ages to better understand animal anatomy. Children and
adults will be delighted when they discover curiosities about animals—like the reason why caribou can
navigate icy ground, what the giraffe's tongue is capable of, and why bulls have such strength. This
exhibition provides an opportunity to see and learn about animals like never before.
The content is factual, instructive, and presented in an unsensational manner, but
some content may require explanation by a teacher or chaperone.
Specimens in this exhibition highlight Plastination.
Invented by scientist and anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, Plastination is the ground-breaking
method of halting decomposition to preserve anatomical specimens. Plastination is the process of
extracting all bodily fluids and soluble fat from specimens, replacing them with reactive resins and other
products.
Where did the animals on display come from?
Animal Inside Out, a BODY WORLDS Production is made possible with cooperation between various
university veterinary programs, zoos and animal groups. Among the plastinates in the exhibition is a
human specimen, originating from the Institute for Plastination's body-donation program. The generosity
of these individual donors has made it possible to present human specimens in this and all of the BODY
WORLDS exhibitions.
How long will I need in order to fully appreciate the exhibition?
This comprehensive exhibition includes detailed information on the specimens shown and further
explorations of the animal kingdom. The average duration of a visit to Animal Inside Out for adults is one
hour. Guests are welcome to remain in the exhibition as long as they wish, within opening hours.
May I take photographs or film in the exhibitions?
Visitors are permitted to take photos and brief video, but the use of tripods is not allowed. Professional
photography sessions are not permitted.
The Exhibition Explores
Skeletal foundations: From tiny insects to full-grown mammals, most animals have a skeleton of some
sort, whether it is an endoskeleton, which humans have, or the exoskeleton of insects and crustaceans.
Muscles, tendons and ligaments: From the large running and leaping muscles of a caribou to the
specialized muscles of a bull’s heart that pumps blood and nutrients around the body, Animal Inside Out
reveals how most animals have and use their muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Internal circuit of the nervous system: The nervous system is a vast and complex network connecting
the brain, spinal cord and all parts of the body, channeling a constant flow of data and sending out
commands. The nerve fibres that carry this vital information can be finer than a human hair and are
invisible to the naked eye.
The birds and the bees: After feeding, reproduction is the most essential of all an animal’s activities, and
evolution has developed a vast number of different ways for animals to reproduce.
Breathing and eating: The lungs and digestive tracts of animals, such as the caribou, reveal the intricate
detail of some of the major organs in the body, many characteristics of which we share with them.
Wildlife conservation and preservation: By learning the similarities between animals and humans,
visitors will be able to gain a new appreciation for the importance of animal welfare.
Essential Questions
1. How are animal groups anatomically similar?
By examining and comparing the anatomy among species, similarities and differences are observed,
establishing a relationship between species. When characteristics are shared among a large number
of similar species, they are viewed as ancestral, while those limited to one or a few species are
viewed as derived. The comparison of a variety of characteristics possessed by similar species
allows scientists to differentiate between species that are closely related and those that have
structures that evolved separately but function in a similar way (such wings in birds and bats), even
though the species may have derived from different ancestral animals.
2. Do animals in nature have anatomical similarities to humans?
All species are similar at the molecular level. They are made of a cell or cells, which are surrounded
by a plasma membrane and contain DNA and RNA. There are 500 genes common to all species. It’s
the combination of the other thousands of genes that allows for such great diversity present on
Earth today. The main goal of Animal Inside Out is to illustrate the interconnectedness of all species
once the outer “covering” is removed.
3. How do animals use specific adaptations to survive in their environments?
Animal Inside Out highlights the unique adaptations in animal groups that allow for survival and
proliferation of their species. For example, sharks have adapted to their environment so well that
they have been present in some form for over 300 million years. Sharks belong to the most
numerous and diverse classification of vertebrates on Earth—fish—and are categorized as
cartilaginous fish. This means their skeletal structure is made of cartilage, not bone as with other
fish. Sharks have extremely well developed sensory organs.
Helpful information on planning your visit, including arrival, bus parking, check-in and payment, our
cancellation policy and chaperones:
http://nature.ca/education/pdf/edu_plan_visit_e.pdf.
You can also contact the Canadian Museum of Nature at [email protected] or 613-566-4701.