"The Vital Organs," above, is part of "Bodies ... The Exhibition" at the Tropicana, as is "Arteries and Veins of Upper Limb," below.

At first glance, "Bodies ... The Exhibition" could appear to be mere sensationalism. Real human bodies stripped down, so to speak, to their essentials: muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels and organs, all set up for an up-close and personal look.

But Dr. Roy Glover, professor emeritus of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Michigan and chief medical director of the exhibit opening today at the Tropicana, sees it as an opportunity to educate people about what he calls "our most precious possession."

"Most people are under-educated about their bodies," Glover said at a recent press conference for the exhibit, produced by Premier Exhibitions Inc., that features 17 whole-body specimens and more than 260 organs and partial body specimens in nine galleries. Most of the bodies are male, although there are a handful of female bodies on view. The exhibit is scheduled to be open for the next six months.

Glover sees it as a wake-up call for unhealthy Americans. "People not only smoke too much, they eat too much," he said. "Most of us eat an inadequate diet. We drink too much, to our body's detriment. We don't sleep enough. We use too many drugs. People overdose on antibiotics. Many people take better care of their cars than their bodies."

The specimens, obtained from a medical school in China, were preserved through a technique using liquid silicone rubber. Once treated, the organs and tissues harden, and the result is a rubberized specimen that is preserved to the cellular level.

The bodies still belong to the school and will be returned when the exhibition finishes touring. Similar exhibits are currently on view in New York, London, Atlanta and Tampa, Fla. So far, officials say, more than 1 million visitors have seen the exhibits in those cities.

Controversy over "Bodies" erupted in Tampa when the Florida Anatomical Board claimed jurisdiction over it, saying it was a medical exhibition. "We said, 'No, it's not for medical students, it's for everybody,' " Glover said. "The anatomists didn't like what we were doing" and tried to ban it.

But the show opened to large crowds, according to Glover. "People were incensed. They said, 'How dare the state anatomical board keep me from seeing this?' " Glover said.

But the China angle also has been controversial because of the country's history of human rights violations. Glover said he is aware of those violations and that "there is a certain amount of risk. But there is documentation in China that all bodies in the exhibit died of natural causes. We don't know the age or cause of death. ... We display the bodies respectfully. This is not a circus, it's not a menagerie. It's a dignified learning experience."

Objections to the exhibit, other than those in Tampa, have been few and far between, Glover said. "We have no political agendas. We want people to see it and make up their own minds."

An optional part of the exhibit contains fetuses, which prompted some concern from a right to life group in Atlanta. "People said we were just abortionists, that we were promoting abortions," Glover said. "A right to life group went through the exhibit and said, 'This is something you've got to see, it's fuel for our position.' ... We're not intending to stir up the fires."

Glover hopes families will come to the exhibit. "I think it's a great place for kids. I don't think it's a great place for them to walk in off the street, but it's wonderful if they're prepared."

The exhibiting company urges children to see "Bodies" with a teacher or parent as a guide.

There is a children's audio tour, and four age-specific teacher's guides, from elementary to post-graduate, are available at the exhibition.