ASHLAND, Ky. — Mega Heart XL, a scientifically accurate 25-foot inflatable replica of the human heart will be on display at the Ashland Town Center Mall from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The exhibit is being sponsored by King’s Daughters Medical Center in celebration of Heart Month.

“Mega Heart provides visitors with a highly interactive, educational experience featuring the heart’s most critical components, normal heart functions and examples of heart trauma and disease,” said Tom Dearing, KDMC marketing director.

Representatives of King’s Daughters Heart and Vascular Center will be on hand to talk about heart disease and answer questions.

At 2 p.m. Friday, cardiothoracic surgeon Eric Bronstein, M.D., will speak on the latest developments in heart surgery; on Saturday, cardiac nurse practitioner Suzanne Gilmore, APRN, will talk about atrial fibrillation, a very common rhythm disturbance, also at 2 p.m.

“There is a lot of mystery surrounding the heart,” Dearing said. “Mega Heart allows people to examine the heart’s anatomy close up and to really begin to understand how complex the heart and vascular system is.”

Mega Heart is appropriate for people of all ages – from schoolchildren through adults. Visitors will enter the heart through the heart’s largest vein, the superior vena cava, and exit through the largest artery that delivers blood to the rest of the body, the aorta. The Mega Heart showcases both anatomical features and diseases/disorders of the heart, including:

· Heart valves

· Endocarditis infection

· Ventricular septal defect

· Mitral valve prolapse· Thrombus

· Myocardial infarction

· Coronary arteries

· Coronary artery bypass graft

· Coronary Stent

Medical Inflatable Exhibits provides large-scale, interactive, educational models of the human anatomy to help teach people about the risks, symptoms, nature and causes of various diseases.

Mega Heart is the world’s only portable, inflatable, walk-through heart exhibit.