BRING OUT YOUR DEAD... AND PUT THEM ON SHOW!

be a much more important reason for taking them along.

To illustrate the futility of wasting money on cigarettes when 20 fags cost so much.

And when each packet is said to shorten your life by an average of three hours and 40 minutes - or enough time to cram in two more football matches or another couple of movies!

The information which accompanies the exhibits varies from the general to the specific.

A pulse is defined as "an artery wall stretching with each heartbeat", while a male sperm is the body's smallest cell and a female egg the largest.

We're informed that a baby will "suckle longer" if its breastfeeding mother has eaten garlic.

And that our bones are five times stronger than mild steel.

Undertaking weight-bearing exercise makes them stronger - but removing their minerals would enable you to tie them in a k not!

A section illustrating foetal development at 14, 18, 19, 24 and 28 weeks is shielded away in case some people don't want to see the specimens which are so detailed it's as if you've stepped into a science fiction movie.

Highlighted with alizarin, a dye that binds to calcium, you can see how foetal development grows future bones at an impressive rate during pregnancy.

My biggest problem with the exhibition was the heat which is apparently not controllable.

Because of the temporary nature of the venue, it's either on (sweltering) or off (freezing).

Interestingly, although advance bookings are said to be at a record high, the organisers won't publish just how many people have been going along already.

So it's a case of Bodies Revealed, figures concealed.

Our own three children are now aged six, nine and 12.

None of them batted an eyelid about what they were seeing.

Instead, they all took the exhibition in their stride, which pleased me greatly.

Far better to have a knowledge of the wonders of your body and the damage you can do to it, than to have no idea at all.

And, equally importantly, to be able to respect death, not to fear it.

VISITOR INFO n BODIES REVEALED is behind The Custard Factory in Gibb Street, Digbeth, until Saturday, January 30 (closed Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Mondays).

n Open 10am-8pm Tuesday to Thursday, 10am-10pm on Friday and Saturday and from 10am-8pm on Sunday.

n Group rates for 10+ people. School parties welcome - call the Group Bookings Department (Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm) on freephone 0800 358 0058.

n Standard admission: Adults pounds 14, children four to 12 (pounds 10), senior citizens and students pounds 12. Audio guide pounds 3, catalogue pounds 12.50. n Average visit is about one hour. n Visit www.bodiesbirmingham. co.uk or www.theticketfactory.com - the website www.bodiesrevealed.com also includes a chronology of anatomy.

n Premier Exhibitions' disclaimer says: "Our suppliers certify that the specimens have been donated by the deceased or authorised by their family for education and that the specimens died of natural causes. Premier cannot, however, independently guarantee the origins of the specimens."

CAPTION(S):

FACE TO FACE... Holly Young studies one of the bodies. Inset, Louie Young faces a skull. BREATHING UNEASILY... Madison Young looks at a smoker's diseased lungs.