Embalming Terminology

Abdominal Anatomical Regions

Two systems of nomenclature employed for designating portions of the abdomen, which include a 9-region method and a 4-quadrant method

Accessory Chemical

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

Action Level (AL)/ Exposure Limits

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

Active Dye

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 on 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 that become atomized and suspended in air

Agglutination

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

Agonal

A period of time immediately before death

Agonal Algor

Decrease in body temperature immediately before death

Agonal Coagulation

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 from an intravascular to a extravascular location immediately before death

Agonal Fever

Increase in body temperature 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 injection is stopped while drainage is opened

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 pointed away from the body

Aneurysm

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

Aneurysm Hook

Embalming instrument 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

Antecubital Fossa

Triangular depression in front of the bend of the elbow

Antemortem

Before death

Antemortem Subcutaneous Emphysema

Distension of the tissues beneath the skin by gas or air from a puncture or tear in the pleural sac or the lung tissue

Anterior Superior Iliac Spine

A palpable bony protuberance located on the ilium

Anticoagulant

Ingredient of embalming fluid 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 Embalming (Vascular Embalming)

The use of the blood vascular system of the body for temporary preservation, disinfection, and restoration; accomplished through injection of embalming solutions into the arteries and drainage from the veins

Arterial Fluid

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

Arterial Solution

Mixture of arterial fluid and water (vehicle) used for arterial injection and may include supplemental fluids

Arterial Tube (Cannula)

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

Ascites

Accumulation of serous fluids in the peritoneal cavity

Asepsis

Freedom from infection and from any form of life; sterility

Asphyxia

Insufficient intake of oxygen

Aspiration

Removal of gas, fluids, and semi-solids from body 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 sterilization by steam pressure

Autolysis

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

Autolytic Enzyme

The body’s own digestive enzymes capable of destroying body cells

Autopsy

Postmortem examination of the organs and tissues of a body to determine cause of death or pathological condition

Biohazard

Biological agent or condition that constitutes a hazard to humans

Biohazardous Waste

Any potentially infection biologically contaminated waste that constitutes a hazard in the workplace

Biological Death

Irreversible somatic death

Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite)

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

Bleaching Agent

Chemical used to lighten a skin discoloration

Bloodborne Pathogen

Microorganism present in human blood or other body fluids that can cause disease in humans

Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

OSHA mandate regulating the employee’s exposure to blood and other body fluids

Blood Discoloration

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

Blood Vascular System

Circulatory 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

An acute, deep-seated inflammation in the skin. Usually begins as a subcutaneous swelling in a hair follicle

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

Prolongation of the last violent contraction of the muscles into the rigidity of death

Calvarium

Superior portion of the cranium removed during cranial autopsy

Calvarium Clamp

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

Capillary

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

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)

Evaluation of the dead body prior to, during, and after the embalming procedure is complete

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; can also be used in hypodermic and surface embalming

Cellular Death

Death of the individual cells of the body

Center of Arterial Solution Distribution

Ascending aorta and/or arch of the aorta

Center of Venous Drainage

Right atrium of the heart

Centrifugal Pump Machine

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

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

Closed Drainage System

Procedure that limits exposure to drainage by attaching tubing to a drain tube allowing drainage to flow directly from a vein to a sanitary disposal system

Coagulating Agent

Chemical or physical agent that brings about coagulation

Co-injeciton Fluid

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

Communicable Disease

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

Concurrent Drainage

Occurs continuously during vascular injection

Concurrent Disinfection

Disinfection carried out during the embalming process

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

Coroner

Elected or appointed official of a local community who may or may not have medical training and holds inquests concerning sudden, violent, and unexplained deaths

Cosmetic Fluid

Arterial fluid that contains active dyes intended to restore a more natural skin tone

Crepitation

Crackling sensation produced when gases trapped in tissues are palpated, as in subcutaneous emphysema or tissue gas

Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (CJD)

Rare degenerative disease of the brain with unknown etiology caused by a prion

Cribriform Plate

Thin, medial portion of the ethmoid bone of the skull used as a point of entry for cranial aspiration

Death

Irreversible cessation of all vital fuctions

Death Rattle

Noise made by a moribund person caused by air passing though a residue of mucous in the trachea and posterior oral cavity

Death Struggle

Semi-convulsive twitches that often occur before death

Decay

Decomposition of proteins by enzymes of aerobic bacteria

Decomposition

Separation of compounds into simpler substances by the action of microbial and/or autolytic enzymes

Dehydration

Loss of moisture from body tissue, which may occur antemortem or postmortem; the removal of water from a substance

Desiccation

Extreme dehydration often resulting in post-embalming discolorations

Desquamation (Skin-slip)

Separation of the epidermis from the underlying dermis

Dialysis

Separation of substances in solution by the difference in their rates of diffusion through a semipermeable membrane

Differential Pressure

Difference between potential and actual pressure