MRTS 2244 GLOSSARY

Abdominal Anatomical Regions

Nine region plan: by means of four imaginary planes, two of which are horizontal (indicated by lines drawn across the right and left 10"' ribs and across the right and left anterior superior iliac spines) and two sagittal (indicated by lines drawn from mid point of inguinal ligament to nipples of chest, right and left sides) Upper row right hypochondriac, epigastric, left hypochondriac Middle row right lateral, umbilical, left lateral Lower row right inguinal, pubic, left inguinal Four region plan: by means of two imaginary planes, one horizontal and the other mid-sagittal Upper right quadrant, upper left quadrant, lower right quadrant, lower left quadrant.

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 chemicals

a group of chemicals used in addition to vascular (arterial) and cavity embalming fluids; most are applied to the body surface. Includes but is not limited to hardening compounds, preservative powders, sealing agents, mold preventative agents, and pack application agents.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

a specific group of diseases or conditions which are indicative of severe immunosuppression related to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); persons dead having had AIDS may exhibit conditions such as wasting syndrome, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and Kaposi's sarcoma.

Action Level/AL-Exposure Limits

this level is established to ensure adequate protection of employees at exposures below the OSHA limits, but to minimize the compliance burdens for employers whose employees have exposures below the 8- hour permissible exposure limit (PEL). The AL for formaldehyde is 0.5 ppm.

Adipocere (Grave Wax)

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

Aerobic

in the presence of free oxygen.

Aerosolization

To disperse as an aerosol; minute particles of blood and water become atomized and suspended in air when water under pressure meets the blood drainage or when flushing an uncovered flush sink.

Agglutination (Congealing)

intravascular, the increase of viscosity of blood brought about by the clumping of particulate formed elements in the blood vessels.

Agonal algor

decrease in body temperature immediately before death

Agonal Coagulation (Congealing)

in reference to blood, a change from a fluid into a thickened mass.

Agonal Dehydration

the loss of moisture from the living body during the agonal state

Agonal Edema

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

Agonal Fever

increase in body temperature immediately before death.

Agonal Period

period immediately before somatic death.

Agonal Translocation (Translocation)

an agonal or postmortem redistribution of host microflora on a hostwide basis.

Algor Mortis

Post-mortem cooling of the body to the surrounding temperature.

Alternate Drainage (Restricted Drainage)

Method of injection-drainage in which embalming solution is injected and then injection is stopped while drainage is open.

American Congress of Governmental Industrial Hygienists/ACGIH

an organization of professional personnel in governmental agencies or educational institutions who are employed in occupational safety and health programs.

amino acids

The building blocks of proteins; and the end products of protein digestion or hydrolysis, it is a compound containing an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl (-COOH) group attached to an alpha carbon and a radical.

Anaerobic

in the absence of free oxygen.

Anasarca

generalized massive edema in subcutaneous tissue.

Anatomical Guide

descriptive references for locating arteries and veins by means of anatomical structures which are known.

Anatomical limits

points of origin and points of termination in relation to adjacent structures; used to designate the boundaries of arteries

Anatomical position

The body is erect, feet together, palms facing forward, and thumbs are pointed away from the body.

Aneurysm

Localized abnormal dilation of outpocketing of a blood vessel resulting from a congenital defect or a weakness of the vessel wall.

Aneurysm hook

an embalming instrument that is used for blunt dissection and in raising vessels.

Aneurysm needle

An embalming instrument that is used for blunt dissection and in raising vessels, which has an eye in the hook portion of the instrument for placing ligatures around the vessels.

Angular Spring Forceps

a multipurpose instrument used in the embalming process.

Anomalies

deviation from the normal.

Antecubital

in front of the elbow/in the bend of the elbow.

Antemortem

before death.

Antemortem subcutaneous emphysema

distension of the tissues beneath the skin by gas or air; an antemortem condition brought about by a surgical procedure, trauma, or by a puncture or tear in the pleural sac or the lung tissue.

Anterior

before or in front of; an anatomical term of position and direction which denotes the front or forward part.

anterior superior iliac spine

a bony protuberance, that can be palpated topographically, found on the ilium, the superior, broad portion of the hipbone; the origin of the inguinal ligament and the sartorius muscle.

Anticoagulant fluid

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

Apparent death

condition in which the manifestations of life are feebly maintained.

Arterial (vascular) fluid

The concentrated, preservative, embalming chemical that will be diluted with water to form the arterial solution for injection into the arterial system during vascular embalming. The purpose is for inactivating saprophytic bacteria and rendering the body tissues less susceptible to decomposition.

Arterial solution

The mixture of arterial (vascular) fluid and water which is used for the arterial injection and may include supplemental fluids.

Arterial tube

a tube used to inject embalming fluid into the body vascular system.

Arteriosclerosis

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

Articulation

place of union between two or more bones

Ascities

accumulation of serous fluids in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity.

Asepsis

freedom from infection and from any form of life; sterility

Asphyxia

insufficient intake of oxygen resulting from numerous causes

Aspiration

withdrawal 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

Appliance used to sterilize medical instruments with steam under pressure, usually at 250 degrees F (120 C) for a specific time.

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 that are capable of destroying body cells (autolytic decomposition).

Autopsy (Postmortem Examination)

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

Bacterial agent

agent that destroys bacteria.

Bateriostatic agent

agent that has the ability to inhibit or retard bacterial growth. No destruction of viability of the the microorganism is implied.

Balsamic substance

Resin combined with oil; a fragrant, resinous, oily exudate from various trees and plants.

Base of the axillary space

the armpit.

Biohazard

Biological agent or condition that constitutes a hazard to humans.

Biohazardous waste (infectious waste)

Bloodborne pathogens, blood or body fluids exposure, any potentially infective, contaminated waste associated with the preparation of human remains 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; normally occurs only in a controlled laboratory setting and requires a catalyst.

Bleaching agent

A chemical that lightens a skin discoloration.

Blood

Cell-containing fluid that circulates through the blood vascular system and is composed of approximately 22% solids and 78% water.

Bloodborne pathogens

Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Bloodborne pathogen rule

OSHA REGULATION (29CFR 1910-1030) regulating the employee's exposure to blood and other body fluids. OSHA DEFINITIONS: Blood. Human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood.

Blood discoloration

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

Blood pressure

pressure exerted by the blood on the arterial wall in the living body and measured in millimeters of mercury.

Blood vascular system

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

Blunt dissection

The separation and pushing aside of the superficial fascia leading to blood vessels and then the deep fascia surrounding blood vessels, utilizing manual techniques or round ended instruments which separate rather than cut the protective tissues.

Boil (Furuncle)

Acute, deep-seated inflammation in the skin which usually begins as a subcutaneous swelling in a hair follicle.

Bridge Suture (Interrupted Suture)

a temporary suture consisting of individually cut and tied stitched employed to sustain the proper position of tissues.

Buccal cavity

Vestibule of the oral cavity; the space between the lips, gums, and teeth.

Buffers

substances that in solution are capable of neutralizing, within limits, both acids and bases and thereby maintaining the original, or constant pH, of the solution.

Bulb syringe

self-contained, soft rubber and manual pump designed to create pressure to deliver fluid as it passes through one-way valves located within the bulb. It is used only to deliver fluids; it cannot be used for aspiration.

Cadaver

dead human body used for medical purposes: including transplantation, anatomical dissection and study.

Cadaveric Spasm

A prolongation of the last violent contraction of the muscles into the rigidity of death.

Calvarium

The dome-like superior portion of the cranium; that portion removed during cranial autopsy.

Calvarium clamp

device used to fasten the calvarium to the cranium after a cranial autopsy.

Canalization

formation of new channels in a tissue.

Capillaries

minute blood vessels, the walls of which comprise a single layer of endothelial cells. Capillaries connect the smallest arteries (arteriole) with the smallest veins (venule) and are where pressure filtration occurs.

Capillary permeability

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

Carbohydrate

a compound of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen that is an aldehyde or ketone derivative of polyhydroxyl alcohol. examples are sugars, starches, and glycogen.

Carbuncle

a circumscribed inflammation of the skin and deeper tissues that ends in suppuration and is accompanied by systemic symptoms, such as fever and leukocytosis.

Carcinogen (Carcinogenicity)

A cancer-causing chemical or material.

Cavitation

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

Cavity embalming

Direct treatment, other than vascular (arterial) injection, 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 chemicals which are injected into the cavities of the body following aspiration in cavity embalming. These fluids can also be used as the chemical in hypodermic and surface embalming.

Cellular death

Death of the individual cells of the body.

Center of fluid distribution

Ascending and/or arch of the aorta.

Center of venous drainage

right atrium of the heart.

Center for disease Control and Prevention/CDCP (CDC)

major agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, concerned with all phases of control of communicable, vector-borne, and occupational diseases.

Centrifugal force machine

embalming machine that uses an electrical pump to create pressure; pulsating and non-pulsating types.

Chelate

substances that bind metallic ions such as Ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA)- used as an anticoagulant in embalming solutions.

Chemical postmortem change

change in the body's chemical composition that occurs after death; for example, release of heme leading to postmortem staining.

Chemotherapy (Chemotherapeutic agents)

The application of chemical reagents in the treatment of disease in humans, causing an elevated preservation demand.

Clinical death

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

Closed drainage system

Drainage procedure that limits the exposure of the embalmer to drainage. Tubing is attached to a drain tube allowing drainage to flow directly from a vein into a sanitary disposal system; tubing may also be attached to a trocar and aspirator allowing drainage to be taken from the right atrium of the heart to the sanitary disposal system.

Coagulation agents

chemical and physical agents that bring about coagulation.

Coinjection fluid

a fluid used primarily to supplement and enhance the action of vascular (arterial) solutions.

Coma

The irreversible cessation of brain activity and loss of consciousness; death beginning at the brain.

Communicable disease

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