Embalming M2 - Vocabulary Assignment

Embalming

The chemical process of sanitation, temporary preservation, and restoration of the dead human body.

Reverence for the dead

The ethical and moral obligation as human beings that we have to care for and respect the deceased.

Body image

The mental photograph that one has of the deceased before they passed, caused by imprinting and bonding throughout life.

Natron

A special salt used in ancient Egyptian embalmings to preserve the deceased.

Canopic jars

Small, urn-like jars used by ancient Egyptian embalmers to preserve particular visceral organs.

William Hunter, M.D.

A doctor of obstetrics and anatomy who is credited as the first to utilize arterial and cavity embalming.

John Hunter, M.D.

A doctor who embalmed the body of Mrs. Martin Van Butchell, using his older brother’s techniques to do so.

Jean Nicolas Gannal

A French chemist who specialized in the use of acids to preserve cadavers. Did much research into new techniques and chemicals which were best for preservation.

Thomas Holmes

Inventor of the rubber coated removal bag, Civil War embalmer who furthered research into chemical and manufacturing of many items.

Richard Burr

A Civil War embalmer who was photographed injecting a patient. However, he was later complained against for poor conduct.

Prince Greer

The first documented Black embalmer is US history. Had a passion for embalming and embalmed throughout the Civil War.

Auguste Renouard

Contributor to The Casket, specialized in ship-outs treated via arterial embalming. His book was the first published specifically as an embalming textbook.

Clarence Strub

Published over 1000 articles about embalming in order to teach others. He wrote The Principles of Restorative Art, the preceptor to many modern restorative art textbooks. Also authored Principles and Practice of Embalming, hailed as the standard embalming textbook used by many schools.

Arterial embalming

Utilization of blood vascular system to deliver preservative solutions to all areas of body at once.

Cavity embalming

Direct treatment of contents of three body cavities (thoracic, pelvic, abdominal) + lumina & hollow viscera. Involved aspiration and injection.

Hypodermic embalming

Subcuticular injection of embalming chemicals directly into tissues using hypodermic syringe/needle & a trocar for larger areas.

Surface embalming

Preservation of tissues via direct contact (applied directly to skin/exposed tissue).

Arterial tube

A tube which is attached to the hose of an embalming machine to introduce embalming fluid into the vascular system.

Aspiration

Removal of tissues, gases, and liquids from the body.

Trocar

A large, hollow needle used to aspiration and injection.

Capillary embalming

A subcategory of arterial embalming. Involved embalming on the molecular scale.

Decay

To undergo destructive dissolution; decomposition of proteins by enzymes or aerobic bacteria.

Decomposition

A process, beginning at death, which is described as the separation of compounds into simpler substances by the action of microbial enzymes and/or autolytic enzymes.

Enzyme

Complex proteins produced by cells which act as a biological catalyst.

Preservation

The science of treating the dead human body chemically so as to inhibit decomposition.

Protein

A class of complex nitrogenous compounds which are synthesized by all living organisms & yield amino acids when hydrolized.

Putrefaction

Decomposition of proteins by the action of enzymes from anaerobic bacteria.

Sanitation

A process to promote and establish conditions that minimize or eliminate biohazards.

Substrate

Substance acted upon (i.e. protein, fat, carb) by an enzyme in a living organism/embalming chemicals in preserving the dead body.