Embalming Glossary WK 3

Abdominal anatomical regions

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

Abut

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

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 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 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 an 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 are pointed away.

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 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 (abdominal) cavity.

Asepsis

freedom from infection and from any form of life; sterility.

Asphyxia

death beginning in the lungs due to an 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 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.

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 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 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.

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 of the muscles of a dead human body.

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.

Cannula

See Arterial tube.

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 completed.

Case report (Embalming report)

detailed listing of body conditions and treatments performed by funeral personnel for all bodies received into a facility for preparation.

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 force machine

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

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 into a sanitary disposal system.

Coagulating agent

chemical or physical agent that brings about coagulation.

Co-injection 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 disinfection

disinfection carried out during the embalming process.

Concurrent drainage

occurs continuously during vascular injection.

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.

Counterstaining

technique using active dye in an attempt to cover internal discolorations such as jaundice.

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 functions.

Death rattle

noise made by a moribund person caused by air passing through 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.

Decedent care report

documentation of body conditions and subsequent treatments when sheltering, or preparing a body for visual identification prior to cremation; or for a body received from another facility.

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.