subject: Broadening Your Horizons In Philly [print this page] When you are thinking about visiting Philadelphia there are a lot of people that do not plan their vacation adequately before they leave. When you are in Philadelphia there are some places to visit that you may not think of right off the bat.
The Franklin Institute is a great place to visit in Philadelphia and when you are planning your vacation you may want to consider stopping by. The museum is frequented by many locals and may become a favorite place for you to visit while in Philly.
The Franklin Institute opened in 1954 and since this time the giant model walk0through Heart has been an integral part of the museum. Just recently, the heart was upgraded and remodeled and was reopened to the public in 2004.
This giant heart is now double in size and it pulses as you are walking through the exhibit. The heart is about 5,000 square feet giving those who are exploring plenty of room to get the full effect of the way a real heart functions.
The heart is the largest walk through heart in the country and for a human being to have a heart this size they would have to stand about two hundred and twenty feet tall. Down the middle of the exhibit runs an electrocardiogram that visitors can watch.
When you are in the exhibit you can also watch an actual open-heart surgery being performed. The surgery was taped with the knowledge that it would be used for the exhibit and gives those inside the exhibit an intimate view of a real heart.
There is also a display that discusses the latest tools that are used in the treatment of the heart.
The exhibit explains how modern technology fixes the different problems that the heart can naturally experience.
If you have young children with you in the exhibit you may be worried about keeping them entertained. When you are in the exhibit your children will be able to participate in a musical cartoon about blood transport while crawling through giant arteries.
The exhibit is divided into four specific themes. This way, there is some organization to the exhibit and those that are walking through and taking in the information can learn about the heart in a systematic manner.
First, the Heart Anatomy and Physiology area is the introduction to the heart. This area starts when you walk into the heart and it will continue to guide you through the rest of the heart to show you the ins and out of your heart.
In this part of the exhibit you will also see the spiral heart portion of the exhibit. While you are watching this display you will see replicas of many different animal hearts to give you perspective on the size of a human heart.
You can also take your own electrocardiogram so that you can learn how to read a cardiograph. While you are reading the graph you will begin to have a better grasp on the way that a heart beats and functions in your body.
When you are in the health and wellness section you will be presented with information that emphasizes the importance of exercise and a healthy diet. Visitors can even watch the reenactment of someone running on an exercise machine.
As you watch this reenactment you are able to see the musculoskeletal system of the runner. As well as learning about exercising methods you can also learn about cooling down methods that help you lower your heart rate.
As you lower your heart rate you are able to make sure that you are not putting too much stress on your heart. There are a lot of people that keep their heart rate too high for too much of their days.
The blood section of the exhibit teaches you all about blood and the different components that make up your blood. Not many people realize that you have so many different parts of blood to create your blood.
You have plasma, red and white blood cells and even platelets in your blood. There are different devices that help doctors and those in the health professions measure the different parts of your blood to make sure that it is all balanced.
Finally, the diagnosis and treatment part of the exhibit shows the different problems that you can have with your heart. As you take the time to understand what can go wrong you may be able to potentially avoid running into problems with your own heart.
