Embalming Semester 1 Test questions and definitions

Embalming suspends the natural decomposition processes in the deceased human body by _____

Creating a temporary state of preservation

The chemical treatment of the dead human body to reduce the presence and growth of micoorganisms, to temporarily inhibit organic decomposition, and to restore the dead human body to an acceptable human appearance

Embalming

Deep-link attachments

Strong and profoundly interwoven psychological bonds with others that are extremely powerful

Emotional confrontation of the reality of death can be achieved when ____

Mourners can physically approach the deceased or a symbol of the deceased

Viewing and touching a dead human body is an effective way for

The bereaved to accept the finality of death

The practical purpose of embalming is to _____

Slow the degenerative changes that occur naturally after death

The center of drainage in the dead human body is ____

The right atrium of the heart

For ancient Egyptians, the spiritual elements released after death continued to exist so long as the body ____

Remained in a recognizable state

Embalming preservatives and germicides interact primarily with ____

Body proteins

The inability of the embalmed tissue to hold water results in ____

Dryness of the embalmed tissue

New embalmed protein-like structures are ____

More stable and longer lasting

Restoration of the dead body is not to reproduce life but to _____

lessen the effects of illness, trauma, and naturally occurring postmortem changes

Arterial embalming is also known as _____

Vascular or Capillary embalming

The circulatory system contains _____ of blood

5-6 quarts

Hemostat (Locking forceps)

Used to clamp leaking vessels

Spring forceps

Instrument used for grasping and holding tissues

Surgical retractors

Designed for grasping, retaining, or holding back tissues

Angular spring forceps

A drainage instrument for use in the internal jugular vein, directed toward the heart.

Grooved director

Used to expand the vein and guide a drain tube or drainage device into place

Trocar

A long hollow needle used for cavity aspiration and injection

Trocar button

A threaded nylon device used for closing the trocar insertion site

Death rattle

A gurgling or rattling in the throat caused by the accumulation of mucous and exacerbated by loss of the cough reflex

Death struggle

A reflexive twitching of the muscles, marking the final efforts to sustain life

Somatic death

Death of the entire body

Clinical death

Occurs when spontaneous respiration and heartbeat irreversibly cease

Brain death

Occurs in a sequence of events that are a function of time without oxygen. The cerebral cortex dies within 5 to 6 minutes, followed by the midbrain and brain stem

Biological death

Irreversible phase of somatic death and represents the cessation of simple body processes. The organs no longer function

Postmortem cellular death

The process during which individual cells die

Necrobiosis

Antemortem, physiological death of the cells of the body followed by their replacement.

Necrosis

Pathological death of a tissue still a part of the living organism.

Agonal algor

Cooling or decrease in body temperature prior to death

Agonal fever

Increase in body temperature just prior to death

Misrepresentation is an ethical performance standard that includes

never aiding/abetting an unlicensed person engaged in unlicensed activity

A decedent care report ___

must be completed in lieu of an embalming report 

The hypovalve trocar ____

applies embalming solution to areas not embalmed sufficiently through arterial embalming

Cross-linked proteins  ____

No longer have the ability to retain water

Hypodermic embalming is _____

the subcuticular injection of embalming chemicals to tissues

Anatomical donation is considered a final disposition on the death certificate

True

Soft embalmed cadavers are used for 

4-5 months

The earliest indications that humans cared for the dead came from 

the neanderthals

Egyptian care of the dead was based on 

Religious custom

The cavity fluid injector is a motorized machine 

False

In embalming, the solution passes through the blood vessels 

similar to the way blood circulates with the exception of the heart 

In body donation ____

preservation takes precedence over appearance 

The most significant benefit of a funeral and embalming is achieved when

the death is fully comprehended by the bereaved person

The percentage of blood contained within the capillary system is 

85%

Capillary walls consist of

a single layer of endothelial cells

Slowing of circulation during agonal hypostasis allows the force of gravity to ____

Overcome the force of circulation

Agonal coagulation

Occurs as the circulation of blood slows and the formed elements of the blood begin to clot and congeal

Translocation

The movement of microorganisms from one area of the body to another

Physical changes

Produced by the forces of nature, rearrange molecules on the molecular level

Chemical changes

Generated by chemical activities that result in the formation of new chemical substances, makes or breaks bonds between atoms

Intrinsic factors

Factors within the body

Extrinsic factors

Factors involving the surrounding environment

Rapid cooling of the body by refrigeration or natural means helps slow the onset of rigor mortis, slow the onset of decomp, and ____

keep the blood in a liquid state

A body that has been cooled rapidly will be more likely to have discoloration from ____

Livor mortis and postmortem staining

Contact pallor

Refers to the areas in where blood movement has been inhibited (the tissues that are NOT stained)

Thinner or less viscous blood flows with less resistance and will ____

Gravitate to dependent parts of the body more readily

Livor mortis is also known as _____

Postmortem lividity or cadaveric lividity

Two factors that play a role in the degree of intensity of livor mortis:

Blood volume and blood viscosity

As dehydration occurs, the blood becomes increasingly ____

Viscous

____ has 4 components, red blood cells, plasma, white blood cells, and platelets

Blood

For the embalmer, the most troublesome organism is ____

Clostridium perfringens

Clostridium Perfringens is responsible for ____

True tissue gas

Postmortem stain

The extravascular blood discoloration brought about by the hemolysis of blood

Hemolysis

Rupture or destruction of red blood cells

Postmortem stain is extravascular and _____ in the tissues as stain

Is permanently fixed

Rigor mortis

The postmortem stiffening of muscles by natural processes

Primary flaccidity

The relaxation of muscles when death occurs

Secondary flaccidity

The relaxation of muscles after rigor mortis

During _____, there is a greater demand for preservative because muscle protein has been broken down to some extent

Secondary flaccidity

Rigor mortis is first seen in the ____

Small muscles

Nysten’s Law

The directional occurrence of rigor mortis from the face to the feet

Rigor mortis can be relieved by _____ the affected joints and muscles

flexing, bending, rotating, and massaging

Cadaveric spasm

Associated with rigor mortis. Sudden involuntary movement or convulsion by involuntary muscle contractions

Peptide bond / Peptide linkage

The chemical bond that links two proteins together

During hydrolysis, large protein molecules are broken down into smaller fragments called ____

Proteoses, peptones, and polypeptides

Some authorities restrict the term putrefaction to the decomposition of proteins by ____

Anaerobic bacteria

Some authorities restrict the term decay to the decomposition of proteins by ____

Aerobic bacteria

The final product of fat decomposition is ____

Adipocere

Adipocere

Commonly known as “grave wax”. A grayish-white waxy substance caused during hydrolysis and hydrogenation of lipids.

The _____ is one of the last organ systems to decompose

Vascular system

Color, odor, skin slip, purge, and gases are ___

The five classic signs of decomposition

Desquamation

Skin slip. The superficial layer weakens as deeper layers undergo autolysis. Hydrolysis of collagen and elastin causes the superficial skin to slough or “slip”

Purge

The evacuation of gases, liquids, and semisolids from a natural body orifice

Supplemental fluid

Fluid injected for purposes other than preservation and disinfection. Enhance the effectiveness of the preservative fluid.

Accessory chemicals

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

Special purpose fluids

Fluids designed for use with specific body conditions that require a high preservative (burns, edema, decomp, jaundice)

Formaldehyde is a _____ at ambient temperature

Colorless gas

The commercial source of formaldehyde is an aqueous solution of formaldehyde gas called

Formalin

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance

True

Formaldehyde is not a known toxin

False

N, when 100 mL of fluid, at normal room temperature, contain N grams of formaldehyde gas

Index

Formaldehyde preserves tissues by _____

Forming new chemical compounds

A greater amount of preservative is also absorbed ____

By the tissues closest to the site of injection

Chemical compounds that contain two aldehyde functional groups in the same molecule are called _____

Dialdehydes

Phenol causes a _____ discoloration of the tissues

“Putty Gray”

Phenol is a strong mold inhibitor (fungicide), making it an ideal ingredient in fluids used for the______

Anatomical embalming of medical cadavers

_____ control the rate of action of the main preservative chemicals of embalming formulations

Modifying agents

Many preservatives, when used alone exert ___

Adverse effects that interfere with good embalming results