Embalming Theory

Abdominal anatomical regions

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

Accessory chemical

a group of preservative chemicals used in addition to vascular (arterial)6
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 location37
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 injected47
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 the12
body is erect, feet together, palms forward, and thumbs are pointed away from body.

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

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 or28
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 (vehicle) 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 cavity.

Asepsis

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

Asphyxia

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 condition that constitutes a hazard to humans.

Biohazardous waste

any potentially infectious biologically 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 or other body fluids 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, or46
location, either intravascularly or extravascularly

Blood vascular system

circulatory network composed of the heart, arteries, arterioles,1
capillaries, venules, and veins.

Blunt dissection

utilizing manual techniques or round-ended instruments that separate rather4
than cut the superficial fascia surrounding blood vessels.

Boil

an acute, deep-seated inflammation in the skin. Usually begins as a subcutaneous swelling in a hair follicle.

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

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

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.

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

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 pump 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,28
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.

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 etiology43
caused by a prion.

Cribriform plate

thin, medial portion of the ethmoid bone of the skull used as a point of entry46
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.

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;13
the removal of water from a substance.

Desiccation

extreme dehydration often resulting in post-embalming discolorations

Desquamation (Skin-slip)

separation of the epidermis from the underlying dermis.

Dialysis

separation of substances in solution by the difference in their rates of diffusion20
through a semipermeable membrane.

Differential pressure

difference between potential and actual pressure.