Embalming Glossary

Domain #1 Vocabulary

Abdominal Anatomical Regions

Two systems of nomenclature employed for desginating portions of the abdomen, which include a 9-region plan and a 4-quadrant plan.

Abrasion

Antemortem injuries resulting from friction of the skin against a firm object resulting in the removal of the epidermis.

Abut

To bluntly adjoin another structure for example, the line of eye closure.

Accessory Chemical

A group of chemicals used in addition to vascular (arterial) and cavity embalming fluids; most are applied to the body surface.

Action Level/AL (Exposure Limits)

A concentration of 0.5ppm of formaldehyde calculated as an 8-hour TWA concentration as defined by OSHA.

Active Dye

An agent that will impart permanent color to tissues.

Actual Pressure

Pressure indicated by the injector gauge needle when the arterial tube is open, and the arterial solution is flowing into the body.

Adipocere (Grave Wax)

Wax-like material produced by saponification of body fat in a body buried in alkaline soil.

Aerobic

Characterized by the presence of free oxygen.

Aerosolization

Dispersed minute particles of blood and water tha become atomized and suspended in the air.

Agglutination

Increased viscosity of blood brought by the clumping of particulate-formed elements in the blood vessels.

Agonal Algor

Decrease in blood temperature immediately before death.

Agonal Coagulation

A change from a fluid into a thickened mass of blood immediately before death.

Agonal Dehydration

Loss of moisture immediately before death.

Agonal Edema

Escape of blood serum an intravascular to an extravascular location immediately before death.

Agonal Fever

Increase in body temperature immediately before death.

Agonal

A period of time immediately before death.

Agonal Translocation

Redistribution of endemic microflora on a host-wide basis immediately before death.

Algor Mortis

Postmortem cooling of the body to the ambient temperature.

Alternate Drainage

Method of injection and drainage in which embalming solution is injected, and then the injection is stopped while drainage is opened.

Amino Acid

The building block of protein.

Anaerobic

Characterized by the absence of free oxygen.

Anasarca

Generalized edema in subcutaneous tissue.

Anatomical Guide

Descriptive reference for locating arteries and veins by means of identifiable anatomical structures.

Anatomical Limits

Points of origin and termination in relation to adjacent structures used to designate the boundaries of arteries.

Anatomical Position

Used as a reference in describing body parts to one another in which the body is erect, feet together, palms forward, and thumbs are pointed away.

Aneurysm

Localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel resulting in a weakness of the vessel.

Aneurysm

Embalming intrusment that is used for blunt dissection and raising vessels.

Aneurysm Needle

Embalming instrument that is used for blunt dissection with an eye in the hook portion of the instrument for placing ligatures around raised vessels.

Angular Spring Forceps

Drainage instrument designed for the removal of venous blood clots.

Anomaly

Deviation from normal.

Antecubital Fossa

Triangular depression in front of the bend of the elbow.

Antemortem

Before death.

Anterior

Anatomical term of position and direction denoting the front or forward part.

Anterior Superior Iliac Spine

A palpable bony protuberance located on the ilium

Anticoagulant

Ingredient of embalming fluids that retards the natural postmortem tendency of blood to become viscous and prevents adverse reactions between blood and other embalming chemicals.

Apparent Death

Condition in which the manifestations of life are feebly maintained.

Arterial Fluid

Concentrated preservative embalming chemical for injection into the arterial system during vascular embalming.

Arterial Solution

Mixture of arterial fluid and water used for arterial injection and may include supplemental fluids.

Arterial Tube

Instrument used to inject embalming fluid into the vascular system.

Arteriosclerosis

Disease of the arteries resulting in thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls.

Articulation

Junction between two or more bones or cartilage.

Ascites

Accumulation of serous fluids in the peritoneal abdominal cavity.

Asepsis

Freedom from injection and from any form of life; sterility.

Asphyxia

Death beginning in the lungs due to an insufficient intake of oxygen.

Aspiration

Removal of gas, fluyids, and semi-solids from ody cavities and hollow viscera by means of suction with an aspirator and a trocar.

Atheroma

Fatty degeneration or thickening of the walls of the larger arteries occurring in atherosclerosis.

Autoclave

Apparatus used for sterlization by steam pressure.

Autolysis

Self-destruction of cells; decomposition of all tissues by enzymes of their own formation without microbial assistance.

Autopsy

A postmortem examination of the organs and tissues of a body to determine the cause of death or pathological condition.

Bactericide

Substance used to destroy bacteria.

Biohazard

Biological agent or situation that constitutes a hazard to humans.

Biohazardous Waste

Any potentially infective, contaminated waste that constitutes a hazard to humans in the workplace.

Biological Death

Irreversible somatic death.

Bischloromethyl ether/BCME

A carcinogen potentially produced when formaldehyde and sodium hypochlorite come into contact with each other.

Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite)

Chlorine-containing compound used for disinfection of inorganic/inanimate surfaces.

Bleaching Agent

Chemical used to lighten skin discoloration.

Blood

Tissue that circulates through the vascular system and is composed of approximately 22% solids and 78% water.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Microorganisms present in human blood that can cause disease in humans.

Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

OSHA mandate (29 CFR 1910.1030) regulating the employee’s exposure to blood and other body fluids.

Blood Discoloration

Condition resulting from changes in blood composition, content, or location, either intravscularly or extravascularly.

Blood Vascular System

Circulatoiry network composed of the heart, arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.

Blunt Dissection

Utilizing manual techniques or round-ended instruments that separate rather than cut the superficial fascia surrounding blood vessels.

Boil (Furuncle)

Deep-seated inflammation in the skin, which usually begin as a subcutaneous swelling in a hair follicle.

Bridge Suture (Interrupted Suture)

Temporary suture consisting of individual stitches employed to sustain the proper position of tissues.

Buffer

Substance capable of neutralizing acids and bases to maintain a constant pH.

Bulb Syringe

Self-contained manual pump made from soft rubber designed to create pressure to deliver arterial fluid as it passes through one-way valves located within the bulb.

Cadaver

Dead human body used for medical purposes.

Cadaveric Lividity (Livor Mortis)

Intravascular red-blue discoloration resulting from postmortem hypostasis of blood.

Cadaveric Spasm (Instantaneous Rigor)

Immediate stiffening ot eh muscles of a dead human body.

Calvarium

Superior portion of the cranium removed during the cranial autopsy.

Calvarium Clamp

Device used to reattach the calvarium to the cranium after a cranial autopsy.

Canalization

Formation of new channels in tissue.

Capillary

Semi-permeable minute blood vessels allowing the diffusion of arterial embalming fluid.

Capillary Permeability

Ability of substances to diffuse through capillary walls into the tissue spaces.

Carbohydrate

Compound of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen, that is an aldehyde or ketone derivative of polyhydroxy alcohol.

Carbuncle

Circumscribed inflammation of the skin and deeper tissues that ends in suppuration and is accompanied by systemic symptoms.

Carcinogen

A cancer-causing chemical or material.

Case Analysis (Embalming Analysis)

EWvaluation of the dead body prior to, during, and after the embalming procedure is completed.

Cavitation

The formation of cavities in an organ or tissue, frequently seen in some forms of tuberculosis.

Cavity Embalming

Direct treatment of the contents of the body cavities and the lumina of the hollow viscera, usually accomplished by aspiration and injection of chemicals using a trocar.

Cavity Fluid

Concentrated embalming chemical injected into the cavities of the body following the aspiration of the body; it can also be used in hypodermic and surface embalming.

Cellular Death

Death of the individual cells of the body.

Center of Arterial Solution Distributor

Ascending aorta and/or arch of the aorta.

Center of Venous Drainage

Right atrium of the heart.

Centrifugal Force Machine

Embalming machine that uses an electrical pump to create pulsating and non-pulsating pressure.

Chelate

Substance used an anticoagulant in embalming solutions that binds metallic ions.

Chemotherapy

Application of chemical agents in the treatment of disease in humans, primarily cancer, causing an elevated preservative demand.

Clinical Death

Phase of somatic death lasting from 5-6 minutes during which life may be restored.

Coagulating Agent

Chemical or physical agents that bring about coagulation.

Co-Injection Fluid

Primarily used to supplement and enhance the action of vascular (arterial) solutions.

Coma

Death beginning in the brain due to irreversible cessation of brain activity and loss of consciousnes.

Communicable Disease

Disease that may be transmitted either directly or indirectly between individuals by an infectious agent.

Concurrent Disinfection

Disinfection carried out during the embalming process.

Concurrent Drainage

Occurs continously during the vascular injection.

Condyle

Rounded articular process on a bone.

Contaminated Laundry

Laundry that has been soiled with blood or other potentially infectious materials.

Contaminated Sharps

Any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin including needles, scalpels, broken glass, and exposed ends of wires.

Cornea

Transparent part of the tunic of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light into the interior.

Corneal Sclera Button

Portion of the cornea recovered for transplantation in situ,