Embalming Glossary

Abdominal anatomical regions

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

Abrasion

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

Abut

To bluntly adjoin another structure (ex. the line of eye closure)

Accessory chemical

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

Action level/AL (exposure limits)

A concentration of 0.5 ppm 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 with the arterial tube open and arterial solution flowing into body

*Potential - Actual = Differential

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 the air

Agglutination

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

Agonal algor

Decrease in body temp 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 from an intravascular to an extravascular location immediately before death

Agonal fever

Increase in body temp 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 temp

Alternate drainage

Injection/drainage method; embalming solution is injected, then stopped while drainage is opened

Amino acid

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 pointed away

Aneurysm

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

Aneurysm hook

Embalming instrument used for blunt dissection and raising vessels

Aneurysm needle

Embalming instrument used for blunt dissection with an eye in the hook portion 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 in embalming fluids that slows 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