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

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

Articulation

Juncture between 2+ bones or cartilage

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 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; decomp of all tissues by enzymes of their own formation without microbial assistance

Autopsy

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 discolorations

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

Blood discoloration

Condition resulting from changes in blood composition, content, or location; either intravascular or extravascular

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 (furuncle)

Deep-seated inflammation in the skin, which usually begins 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 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

Canalization

Formation of new channels in tissue

Capillary

Semi-permeable minute blood vessels allowing for 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 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

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 accompanied by aspiration and injection of chemicals using a trocar

Cavity fluid

Concentrated embalming chemical injected into the cavities of the body following aspiration; 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 heart

Centrifugal force machine

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

Chelate

Substance used as 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 mins 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 solutions

Coma

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

Communicable disease

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

Concurrent disinfection

Disinfection carried out during the embalming process

Concurrent drainage

Occurs continuously 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 wire ends

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