This series of four programmes starts tonight at 11.05 on CH4. Anatomist Dr Gunther von Hagens and pathologist Prof John Lee lead us through a graphic dissection of a human body in order to examine internal structures and organs in detail. The whole thing is shown over four nights and looks to be fascinating.

As student nurses we were offered the chance to attend a post mortem but at the time I decided against it. I'm looking forward to seeing this though.

Hiya Voicey, great to see you here:)

I saw the ad's for this program and it looks good.
Isn't one of the doc's the one that did the autopsy on channel 4 a while back.
I will definately be watching, I love all that stuff.
And I never got the chance to see a pm.

Hiya Voicey, great to see you here:)

I saw the ad's for this program and it looks good.
Isn't one of the doc's the one that did the autopsy on channel 4 a while back.
I will definately be watching, I love all that stuff.
And I never got the chance to see a pm. Sis ! Mum's back :laugh: hoorrrrayyyyy ! Good to see you Voicey.

This programme looks very very interesting.

I'll definately be tuning into this and urge everyone else too as well! Had to do dissections of dead bodies a few years ago and it's probably the most intresting (and gruesome!) thing I've ever done. I find it all fascinating!

Yes it's the guy who also did the infamous BodyWorlds exhibition in East London so I'll be setting the video!

I saw the trailer for this and found out that if you bent your largest middle finger into a claw - and let the other fingers stay upright - you lose the use of your muscle and can only move the tip of that finger by pinging it with your other hand. It is to do witht he tendon running the length of that finger - amazing and a great party trick[ish] [only if you are easily amused - like me!!!]:blush:

It looks unmissable!!

This sounds fascinating, but is not really my cup of tea so I will give it a miss!

This is truly fascinating. I watched the autopsy last year but I was disappointed with that, but I've enjoyed this.

Wow! That was brilliant, and presented in such an interesting way too. It's not every day you see a brain on a bacon slicer is it?!

Have to be honest here - I can't see how sliced up human organs can be fascinating! What's the big appeal?

I really enjoyed the program, it was fascinating.

For me the appeal is to see the inside of our bodies and to see how they do work. The body is such an intricate thing, how every little cell in there comes together and makes you, you.
You don't often get to see how big a tendon or a nerve is. I remember being in theatre once a student nurse and I couldn't believe how big the femoral artery was, it was just amazing.
I think it also makes me think that our bodies are just shells and there is something more involved, what I don't know, but it made me think.

The second part of this is on tonight at 11.05, and it's examining the respiratory and circulatory systems.

Have to be honest here - I can't see how sliced up human organs can be fascinating! What's the big appeal?
Well I suppose it's one of those things that you are either interested in or not.

Personally I have a fascination for dead/deformed things that could be construed as unhealthy, but really I don't care.

I've just seen about 10 minutes of the programme and I feel very guilty as if I have dishonoured the dead person. The guy was naked and had nothing covering his private parts- then the naked chinese model, what was the point of that? Did she have to have all her bottom half off to show the respiritory system? It was a joke.


Don't get me wrong, I found the disection very interesting, but somehow think the whole thing is a bit distasteful and made for entertainment value which makes light of a precious human life.

I have seen many naked dead human bodies before in a morgue in South Africa. This was different though, it was for everybody to see on TV, they could have covered his penis like his face was covered.

Im facinated by this also. I missed the 1st part last night (only saw the end) So Ive taped the one tonight so I couldnt miss it! I'll be watching it in the morning..........probably whilst Im having breakfast.

This was excellent again last night, I was particularly impressed by the plastinate showing all the blood vessles of the body, it really was quite beautiful.

The anatomical artist is also brilliant.

I don't see this as 'entertainment' but educational and I think the bodies are treated with great respect. I don't think the nakedness was at all gratuitous either, last night's programme concerned the circulatory and respiratory system which clearly involve the whole body and not just the chest.

The only jarring note for me is Van Hagens' hat!

I do understand exactly what you are saying. I really wanted to carry on watching it as I find the human body most intreguing. I loved watching the inside etc, I just felt too guilty, like I had no respect for the body, I think they could have done something to protect the mans modesty. I do think that there was supposed to be an aspect of entertainment in it.

This is my opinion and I accept that other people have other opinions.

I think they could have done something to protect the mans modesty. I do think that there was supposed to be an aspect of entertainment in it I can sort of see what you are saying, but I think the 'modesty' you talk about is yours and not his, he cannot feel embarrassed as he is no longer alive. Remember that the bodies used in this programme have been donated by those who once lived in them and interestingly the live audience is partly made up of folk who have decided to do likewise and are happy to do so.

We come into this world naked and we leave it in the same way, nudity is nothing to be ashamed of. I think it would be far less respectful to have the donor wearing pants for instance, which would be totally unatural! It was also essential to have the donor naked as some of the larger structures in the circulatory system run through the groin, and we were shown these too.

I can understand why someone wouldn't want to see this, but to me it's interesting and informative rather than entertaining.

I can see it more from your point of view now. I don't know, I found it so interesting, but I stopped watching because I just felt some of the camera angles (main feature being the penis!) were unneccessary. I got the impression that it was also for entertainment rather than education.

Perhaps I was a little cynical. I only started watching it whilst flipping through channels. I saw 10 minutes of it. I may give it another go. Is it on every week?

Is it on every week?
It's on for four consecutive nights Claire, the third programme is tonight and concerns the digestive system.

I think tomorrow's Programme is centered on the reproductive systems of both sexes.

I really enjoyed this program again.

The model of all the arterial system looked wonderful, amazed me it did, it was like a piece of artwork.
I don't think that it's disrespectful to the individual.
The body was donated to the doctor, I suspect to that doctor specifically and not just donated to science, so the individual knew before he died what might happen to his body.

I was amazed at the size of the adhesions on the heart though.

I think tomorrow's Programme is centered on the reproductive systems of both sexes.


See I don't know if I could watch that, I just think private parts are so private. Are they going to cut open a penis?

See I don't know if I could watch that, I just think private parts are so private. Are they going to cut open a penis?
I would have thought so yes.

The thing is Claire, this is an anatomical exercise, presented in a fairly academic way. It's about studying, in detail, the structures of the human body in order to examine their functions. It's not for kicks, or to get cheap 'penis shots' and believe me, I'd be the first to be disgusted if I thought it was! But essentially a penis is just a part of the male human anatomy and I see no reason to avoid showing it, this is 2005 after all and I think most of the 11 pm audience are probably above giggling at a penis!

Yes I understand what you are saying. I certainly wouldn't be giggling at any penis but I just feel it should be buried or burnt but not disected for the world to see. I suppose it just takes some getting used to. What you say does make sense... First time I've had a difference of opinion with somebody and you've nearly swung me completely to your way of thinking!

Claire, there's a difference to covering a face and a penis. Their faces are covered to respect their privacy and also so no-one can recognise them, obviously! (although I imagine that they'll be cutting open their faces soon) - I don't think many people will recognise a dead man from his penis - well I should hope not!
I really don't see anything wrong with the body being naked and don't think it's degrading to them in the slightest. After all, these people donated their bodies before the died so were fully aware of what would happen to them.

After all, these people donated their bodies before the died so were fully aware of what would happen to them.

Sure, I understand what your'e saying.

Get real


Some of you may remember I ent to the 'bodyworks' exhib.......I personally think that should be a permenant exhib.

We are what we are ............... a body/cadaver/matter


Who's to know what we are if you do not question...............................

Yes Slipper, I would love to have seen the Bodyworks exhibition. Van Hagens, whilst cutting a bit of a worrying 'Freddie Kruger' like dash in his hat and gown!, is clearly a very talented anatomist who goes out of his way to present his disections in a sympathetic and aesthetic pleasing way, and constantly reinforces the importance of making the body look tidy whilst he works.

I found the digestive system programme last night really interesting, it's incredible just how much stuff is packed into a human torso! I also like the way that the altered physiology is explained, so that it becomes clearer what affect a diseased/damaged organ has on the functioning of a system.

It's the last one tonight, on the reproductive systems.

Bodyworlds was fab - it's the most fascinating exhibition I have ever seen. I'm just glad it was easy for me to go, living locally to it.

I thought the digestive dissection last night was particularly astoundingand can't wait to see what he does tonight!

Get real


Some of you may remember I ent to the 'bodyworks' exhib.......I personally think that should be a permenant exhib.

We are what we are ............... a body/cadaver/matter


Who's to know what we are if you do not question...............................

Although if someone presented me with your kidneys in a stainless steel dish I don't think it would tell me much about you.

Although if someone presented me with your kidneys in a stainless steel dish I don't think it would tell me much about you.
Well, it would tell you he had no kidneys.

And that I'd got his dish

I rest my case.

There is a follow up programme at 9pm next Monday night (January 31st) called 'The final cut' which reprises some of the dissections carried out. I'm going to let my children watch that one as it's not on so late. I'm also hoping that the series will come out on DVD at some point.

I did squirm though when he dissected that testicle and willy!! :sick:

Lol Ceri, it was a bit uncomfortable to watch, fascinating though.

I have just realised that I have given the wrong day for the follow up show, it's actually on on Sunday night (30th) CH4 at 9pm (and not Monday as I previously posted - sorry!)

I did squirm though when he dissected that testicle and willy!! :sick:
You squirmed?? I had to sit with my legs crossed! The faces on the all the guys in the audience were priceless though!

You squirmed?? I had to sit with my legs crossed! The faces on the all the guys in the audience were priceless though!

I could barely even watch... I kept flicking through the channels then back onto it...

Some of that stuff just makes me really queasy... :sick:

Good programme all in all though.

I recorded the last one as it was on rather late......might watch it later today.
I thought the respiratory and the indigestive systems were absolutly amazing!

Didn't see the reproductive one as i fell asleep. My hubby watched half of it.. he said it was amazing but he had a different opinion of penis's after watching that... I heard it was blue underneath!! Weird!! What did they do to the woman?

He also said the live model had a sque winkle.