Embalming

The applied chemical process concerned with sanitation and the temporary preservation of the dead body

Embalming

What is only temorary?

Preservation

When is embalming usually selected?

When a service is involved that will require the body present

When is embalming also necessary for what study of the dead human body?

Anatomical study

Anatomical study donations are needed for research to help what?

Advance medical science

The separation of compounds into simpler substances by the action of microbial enzymes and/or autolytic enzymes. Begins at death

Decomposition

Embalming inhibits what?

Decomposition

Indefinite preservation is possible, but how may the decedent be left?

unrecognizable

What factors affect decomposition from within the body?

Intrinsic factors

What factors affect decomposition from outside of the body?

Extrinsic factors

Intrinsic factors include what? (4 factors)

Pathologic processes, circulatory conditions, degree of body moisture, and distribution of preservative chemicals

Extrinsic factors include what? (3 factors)

Type of preservatives used, strength and volume of embalming fluid, and environmental factors surrounding entombment or internment space

Embalming preservatives and germicides interact primarily with what?

Body proteins

The chemicals and proteins react to form what?

Firm/embalmed tissue

Body proteins have reactive centers that can hold what?

Large amounts of water

Embalming destroys the reactive centers and takes away what?

The proteins’ ability to retain water

Enzymes are proteins that originate from what?

Body cells or bacteria

Enzymes can react with the body’s what to cause decomposition of the body?

Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates

Chemicals such as germicides and preservatives inactivate proteins of what?

The tissue, enzymes, and microbes in the body

Restoration is performed to lessen the effects of what?

Illness, trauma, surgeries, tumors, disfigurements, and other postmortem changes

In 1982 who defined the functions of embalming fluid and the process by which fluid reaches the cells of the body?

Professor Charles O. Dhonau

Professor Charles O. Dhonau was the dean of what?

Cincinnati College of Embalming

Dhonau explained the function of embalming fluids was to achieve what of the bodys tissues? (3 things)

Sanitation, preservation, and restoration

What are the four classifications of embalming?

Arterial (aka vascular), Cavity, Hypodermic (aka subcuticular), and Surface

Temporary preservation, sanitation, and restorative of the dead human body are the most effective when embalming treatments are used in what?

Combination

The selection of vessels to be used in a case is determined during what?

The evaluation of postmortem conditions in your embalming analysis

Embalming is conducted in what two stages?

Arterial and cavity

What involves the replacement of body fluids with embalming fluids?

Arterial embalming

Several gallons of preservative is injected under pressure into the circulatory system through a large artery such as what?

Common carotid or femoral

What are removed to create room for the preservative solution from a large vein

Blood and tissue fluids

The preservative solution flows through what?

The arterial, capillary, and venous routes

What is the difference between the Arterial Embalming and Embalming solution?

Embalming solution does not pass through the heart chambers in the same way as blood

When solution reaches the ascending aorta, it forces the semilunar valve closed causing what to fill with fluid and carry it to the capillaries in the body?

The ascending aorta, arch of the aorta, and the descending aorta

Arterial Embalming can also be known as what?

Capillary Embalming

The circulatory system of human contains approximately how many quarts of blood and what percent of body weight?

5-6 quarts of blood, 8% of body weight

Nearly what percent of blood is contained within the capillaries?

85%

Embalming solution passed through what to reach tissue spaces?

Capillaries

Embalming solution reacts with the what in the cells of the tissue spaces making sanitation and temporary preservation occur?

Proteins

Cavity embalming is what stage of embalming?

Second stage

The direct function of cavity embalming is to treat what of the body cavities?

Visceral organs

Many of these organs are hollow and their contents cannot be reached by what?

Preservatives vascularly

The contents of the hollow organs must be removed to make room for cavity fluid. What is this called?

Aspiration

What is inserted through the abdominal wall near the umbilicus?

Trocar

Once all the fluids are removed, cavity fluid is injected by using a trocar attached to what?

A cavity fluid injector

Is cavity fluid diluted?

No

How much cavity fluid is used per case?

32-48 ounces

Supplemental embalming methods include what embalming treatments?

Hypodermic and Surface embalming

In supplemental hypodermic and surface embalming chemical can be injected by what?

Hypodermic syringe or hypovalve trocar

The injection of a suitable preservative chemical directly into the tissues

Hypodermic embalming

The hypodermic embalming area of treatment may be localized like a finger or extensive as in the what in an autopsied case?

Abdominal wall

When is hypodermic treatment employed

When preservation is not achieved by arterial embalming and for tissue bleaching

Application of embalming chemicals directly to the surface of the tissues of the body

Surface embalming

For surface embalming chemicals are applied as a what?

Spray, brushed on surface in liquid or gel form, or applied on cotton as a surface compress

What is anatomical embalming?

Decedents who have chose to donate themselves to science, but whose families would also like a viewing

When is cavity embalming not permitted?

In anatomical embalming

What treatment is usually allowed in anatomical cases?

Hypodermic treatment of the face and hands

Anatomical donation requires legal documentation and is considered what?

A method of final disposition (Bequeathal)

What is the time for use of a cadaver in anatomical embalming

Up to 2 years

How many gallons of solution is usually injected from a single site in anatomical cases?

8-12 gallons

In anatomical cases drainage is restricted and what is not performed?

Cavity aspiration

Some anatomical dissection procedures call for the cadaver to retain what?

Muscle and joint flexibility

For soft embalming method for cadavers how many gallons is injected under high ressure

5 gallons

For soft embalming’s where are the first two gallons injected

Right common carotid

For soft embalming what injection method is used

Six-point injection

For soft embalming the donor is placed in mortuary refrigeration for how many weeks to cure?

2-4 weeks

What should the Decedent Care Reports contain?

Condition of the body

Manner and method

Post embalming and care

Date/time of arrival

Starting/ending time of prep

Name and license number of embalmer and those who assisted

Gives permission and identification

Embalming Authorization

Necessary when extensive work is required

Authorization for restorative and cosmetic care

Authorizes minimum care when no embalming is selected

Authorization for Minimum Care Services

Same/similar form to the authorization for minimum care services

Minimum care authorization when embalming is declined

Used to prepare a body that will be donated

Authorization to prepare donation cases for viewing

Gives direction for the disposition of the body when green burial is selected

Green funeral release and identification

Verifies the identification of a decedent

Identification of Remains of the Decedent

Used when the funeral home advises against viewing due to trauma, but the family insists

Trauma Viewing without Embalming

A form that will usually go with the body when it is being transferred between funeral facilities

Attention Funeral Director

Completed in lien of a embalming report for each decadent brought into your care. A copy must go with the body if being transferred of shipped

Decedent Care Report

Must be completed for each decedent being brought into the facility and embalmed. Must go with the body if being shipped or transferred

Embalming Report