Comps Review (Embalming)

Abrasion

friction
removal of epidermis

Abut

touch or contact
Ex: eyelids

Accessory Chemical

used in addition to vascular and cavity fluids
Ex: hardening compounds, preservative powders sealing agents, mold preservative agents, and pack application agents

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome / AIDS

related to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
May exhibit wasting syndrome, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and Kaposi's sarcoma

Mycobacterium avium

causes TB in AIDS patients

Action Level

0.5 ppm / 8 hours

Actual Pressure

pressure indicated by the injector gauge needle when arterial solution is flowing into the body

Adipocere

Grave Wax
Forms upon the postmortem hydrolysis and hydrogenation of body fats

Aerobic

free oxygen

Aerosolization

disperse as an aerosol
minute particles of blood and water become atomized and suspended in air

Agonal Algor

decrease in body temperature before death

Agonal Coagulation

blood from fluid into a thickened mass before death

Agonal Dehydration

loss of moisture during agonal state

Agonal Edema

escape of blood serum before death

Agonal Fever

increase in body temperature before death

Agonal Period

immediately before somatic death

Algor Mortis

post-mortem cooling

Alternate Drainage

Restricted Drainage
Embalming solution is injected...injection is stopped while drainage is open

Amino Acid

Building blocks of protein

Anaerobic

absence of free oxygen

Anasarca

generalized edema

Anatomical Guide

descriptive reference for locating by anatomical structures which are known
Ex: "along the..."

Anatomical Limits

points of origin and points of termination used to designate boundaries of arteries
Ex: "beginning and end point"

Anatomical Position

feet together, palms forward, thumbs out

Aneurysm

abnormal dilation of blood vessel
May need multipoint injection due to disruption in vascular system

Aneurysm Hook

used for blunt dissection and in raising vessels

Aneurysm Needle

used for blunt dissection and in raising vessels
has an eye in the hook portion for placing ligatures around the vessels

Angular Spring Forceps

multipurpose instrument
may be used as a drainage instrument

Antecubital

in the bend of the elbow

Antemortem

before death

Anterior

front

Anterior Superior Iliac Spine

found on the superior, broad portion of he hipbone
origin of the inguinal ligament and the sartorius muscle

Anticoagulant Fluid

retards the postmortem tendency of blood to become more viscous

Apparent Death

manifestations of life are feebly maintained

Arterial (Vascular) Fluid

concentrated preservative that will be diluted with water
for inactivating saprophytic bacteria and rendering the body tissues less susceptible to decomposition (preservative)

Arterial Solution

mixture of arterial (vascular) fluid and water
may include supplemental fluids

Arterial Tube

tube used to inject embalming fluid into the body

Arteriosclerosis

causing a thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries

Ascites

serous fluids in the peritoneal cavity

Asepsis

freedom from infection
sterility

Asphyxia

insufficient intake of oxygen

Aspiration

withdrawal of gas, fluids, and semi-solids from body cavities with an aspirator of trocar

Autoclave

apparatus used for sterilization by steam pressure

Autolysis

self-destruction of cells

Autolytic Enzyme

body's own digestive enzymes
capable of destroying body cells

Autopsy

Necropsy
Postmortem examination to determine cause of death or pathological condition

Bacterial Agent

kills bacteria

Bacteriostatic Agent

ability to inhibit or retard bacterial growth
does not kill bacteria

Base of the Axillary Space

arm pit

Bischloromethyl Ether / BCME

carcinogen potentially produced when formaldehyde and sodium hypochlorite come into contact
occurs in controlled laboratory
requires catalyst

Biohazard

biological agent
constitutes a hazard to humans

Biohazardous Waste

Infectious Waste
bloodborne pathogens, blood or bodily fluid exposure
potentially infective, contaminated waste
hazard to humans in the workplace

Biological Death

irreversible somatic death

Bleaching Agent

lightens a skin discoloration

Blood

tissue that circulates through the vascular system
22% solids
78% water

Blood Pressure

pressure exerted by the blood in the living body on the arterial wall measured in millimeters of mercury
Normal 120/80

Blood Vascular System

circulatory network
contains heart, arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins

Bloodborne Pathogen Rule

regulating the employees exposure to blood and other bodily fluids

Bloodborne Pathogens

pathogenic microorganisms that are present n human blood and can cause disease in humans
Ex: hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Boil

Furuncle
begins as a subcutaneous swelling in a hair follicle

Bridge Suture

Temporary Interrupted Suture
individual stitch knotted at the tissue edge
applied prior to embalming

Buccal Cavity

Mouth cavity
Space between the lips, gums, and teeth

Buffers

stabilization of the acid-base (pH) base

Cadaver

dead human body used for medical purposes

Cadaveric Spasm

prolongation of the last violent contraction of the muscles

Calvarium

dome-like superior portion of the cranium removed during cranial autopsy

Calvarium Clamp

device used to fasten the calvarium after cranial autopsy

Capillaries

minute blood vessels, the walls of which comprise a single layer of endothelial cells
where pressure filtration occurs

Capillary Permeability

ability of substances to diffuse through capillary walls

Carbuncle

inflammation of the skin and deeper tissues accompanied by systemic symptoms like fever and leukocytosis

Carcinogen

cancer-causing chemical

Cavity Embalming

Direct treatment of the contents of the body cavities and the lumina of the hollow viscera
Usually accompanied by aspiration and injection

Cavity Fluid

chemicals which are injected into the cavities
Can also be used in hypodermic and surface embalming

Cellular Death

death of individual cells

Center of Fluid Distribution

ascending and/or arch of the aorta

Center of Venous Drainage

Right atrium

Centrifugal Force Machine

embalming machine that uses an electric pump to create pressure
pulsating or non-pulsating

Chemical Postmortem Change

change in the body's chemical composition after death
Ex: hemolysis, decomposition, postmortem stain, postmortem caloricity, pH changes, rigor mortis

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapeutic agents
application of chemical reagents in the treatment of disease
elevated preservative demand

Clinical Death

phase of somatic death
5-6 minutes during which life may be restored

Closed System Drainage

limits the exposure of the embalmer to the drainage
drainage flows directly from a vein into a sanitary disposal system
tubing may also be attached to a trocar and aspirator allowing drainage to go directly from the right atrium to the sanitary disposal system

Coagulating Agents

agents that bring about coagulation
the action of HCHO on a protein

Coinjection Fluid

supplement and enhance the action of vascular (arterial) solutions

Coma

irreversible cessation of brain activity
death beginning at the brain

Communicable Disease

disease that may be transmitted either directly or indirectly

Concurrent Disinfection

disinfection practices carried out during the embalming process

Concurrent Drainage

drainage occurs continuously during vascular (arterial) injection

Contagious Disease

disease that may be transmitted between individuals

Contaminated

presence of blood or potentially infectious materials on an item or surface

Contaminated Sharps

contaminated object that can penetrate the skin
Ex: needles, scalpels, broken glass, and exposed ends of wires

Corneal Sclera Button

portion of the cornea recovered for transplantation

Coroner

official who holds inquests concerning sudden, violent, and unexplained deaths

Corpulence

Obesity
abnormal amount of fat on the body

Cosmetic Fluid

contains dyes and coloring agents
restore a more natural skin tone

Counter Staining Compound

dyes that help to cover internal discolorations like jaundice

Coverall

cover the body from the chest down to the upper thigh

Cranial Embalming

embalm the contents of the cranial cavity by passage of a trocar through the cribiform plate

Crepitation

crackling sensation
occurs in subcutaneous emphysema

Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (CJD)

disease of the central nervous system
unknown etiology
caused by prion
use extreme caution

Cribiform Plate

thin, medial portion of the ethmoid bone