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Embalming Theory > Chapter 5 Concepts for Study > Flashcards

Chapter 5 Concepts for Study Flashcards

1
Q

Agonal algor

A

cooling or decrease in body temp. prior to death. Common when death occurs slowly; metabolism and circulation also slow.

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1
Q

Adipocere

A

Final product of fat decomp. AKA grave wax.

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2
Q

Agonal capillary expansion

A

dilation of pores within the capillaries in effort to send more oxygen to the tissues and the cells.

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3
Q

Agonal dehydration

A

a decrease in the amount of moisture, or fluids, in the tissues and body cavities.

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4
Q

Agonal edema

A

an increase in the amount of moisture, or fluids, in the tissues and body cavities. Can result from disease processes and from agonal capillary expansion.

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5
Q

Agonal fever

A

Increase in body temp. prior to death. Common with infection, toxemia and certain types of poisoning. Elevated temps stimulate microbial growth.

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6
Q

Agonal hypostasis

A

Settling of blood into dependent tissues of the body. Slowing of circulation allows the force of gravity to overcome the force of circulation.

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7
Q

Agonal period

A

Period immediately before somatic death. The actively dying stage.

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8
Q

Anabolism

A

The building phase in metabolism

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9
Q

Autolysis

A

Cellular self-decomposition. decomposition of tissue by enzymes of their own formation without microbial assistance.

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10
Q

Biological death

A

Irreversible phase of somatic death; represents cessation of simple body processes. Organs no longer function.

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11
Q

Brain death

A

Occurs in a sequence of events that are a function of time w/o oxygen. First part of the brain to die is there cerebral cortex (5-6 mins). Next the midbrain, then the spinal cord.

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12
Q

Cadaveric spasm

A

sudden involuntary movements or convulsions brought about by involuntary muscular contractions. Occurs when rigor mortis sets in irregularly.

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13
Q

Catabolism

A

Breakdown phase in metabolism

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14
Q

Clinical death

A

when spontaneous respiration and heartbeat irreversibly cease

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15
Q

Contact pallor

A

Refers to the areas where blood movement has been inhibited. Contact pallor areas will not discolor.

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16
Q

Death rattle

A

Gurgling or rattling in the throat caused by the accumulation of mucous and exacerbated by loss of the cough reflex.

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17
Q

Death struggle

A

reflexive twitching of muscles, marking final efforts to sustain life.

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18
Q

Decay

A

Decomposition of proteins by aerobic bacteria

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19
Q

Desquamation

A

Skin slip. Hydrolysis of collagen and elastin causes superficial skin to slough off.

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20
Q

Extrinsic factors

A

Factors outside the body, in the surrounding environment

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21
Q

Fermentation

A

Process in which glucose breaks down. Decomp of carbohydrates.

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22
Q

Hemolysis

A

rupture or destruction of red blood cells. Causes postmortem stain.

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23
Q

Intrinsic factors

A

Factors within the body

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24
Q

Moribund

A

Body is the actively dying stage. When a person is in the agonal period they are said to be _____.

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25
Q

Postmortem cellular death

A

Cell vital surplus depleted and cells die. May take hours depending on different variables.

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26
Q

Rigor mortis

A

Chemical change; postmortem stiffening of muscles by natural processes.

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27
Q

Postmortem stain

A

chemical change; extravascular blood discoloration brought about by the hemolysis of blood. Cannot be cleared with embalming.

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28
Q

Postmortem caloricity

A

Chemical change, rise in body temp. due to increased cellular metabolism.

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29
Q

Postmortem shifts in pH

A

Normal pH for the body is ___. After death there is a drop in pH of blood and tissue fluid.
The body remains acidic during rigor mortis and then gradually , as decomposition advances, becomes increasing alkaline

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30
Q

Decomposition

A

the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler substances.

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31
Q

Algor mortis

A

postmortem cooling of the body over time. Will cool to surrounding temp.
Intrinsic factors: corpulence (fat), body temp at TOD
Extrinsic factors: clothing, environment temp/humidity

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32
Q

Hypostasis

A

process by which blood settles, as a result of gravitational movement within the vessels, to the dependent, or lower parts of the body.
Depends on body position

33
Q

Livor mortis

A

postmortem intravascular blood discoloration that occurs as a result of hypostasis. AKA postmortem lividity or cadaveric lividity. Discoloration appears 30-90 minutes after death. Can be flushed out during embalming. Degree of livor mortis depends on blood volume and blood viscosity.

34
Q

Dehydration (desiccation)

A

Loss of water and fluids from body tissues. Two factors at work here: surface evaporation (passage of air over surface of body) and gravitation (physical movement of fluids to dependent regions). Yellow to brown to black. Shrivel and wrinkle.

35
Q

Increase in blood viscosity

A

Two parts of blood
“Solid” made up of groups of blood cells
“Liquid” in which those cells are suspended;
Blood can thicken after death from dehydration, inhibits drainage. Hypostasis favors liquid blood.

36
Q

Endogenous invasion of microorganisms

A

Tissue barriers lose structural integrity after death
Post Mortem Factors contributing to translocation include:
Chemical and physical changes, Movement and positional changes of the body, Passive recirculation of blood from contaminated body sites, Thrombus Fragmentation and relocation, Intestinal Bacilli mobility

37
Q

Primary flaccidity

A

when muscles are relaxed immediately after death.

38
Q

Ptomaine

A

foul amines; a group of malodorous amine compounds formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria.

39
Q

Putrefaction

A

Decomposition of proteins by anaerobic bacteria

40
Q

Secondary flaccidity

A

muscle relaxation after rigor mortis has passed (36 - 72 hours)

41
Q

Sludge

A

Blood sticking together in clumps due to dehydration

42
Q

Somatic death

A

When the body loses ability to sustain physiologic and metabolic activity. Death of the entire body.

43
Q

Taphonomy

A

Scientific study of decomposition. Study how processes (such as burial, decay and preservation) affect remains. Body farms.

44
Q

Translocation

A

a movement of microorganisms from one area of the body to another. Results from having natural motility, entering the blood stream and circulating to other parts of the body or gravitating to other parts of the body during hypostasis or shifts in tissue moisture.
Occurs agonally and postmortem. Tissue barriers lose structural integrity after death

45
Q

Postmortem cellular death

A

Process during which individual cells die. May take a matter of hours depending on numerous variables.

46
Q

Time it takes Brain and nervous system cells to die

A

5 mins

47
Q

Time it takes muscle cells to die

A

3 hours

48
Q

Time it takes cornea cells to die

A

6 hours

49
Q

Time it takes blood cells to die

A

6 hours

50
Q

Necrobiosis

A

Physiologic or natural death of cells as they complete their life cycles. Physiological death of the cells of the body followed by their replacement

51
Q

Necrosis

A

Pathologic death of body cells as a result of disease processes (decubitus ulcers and gangrene)

52
Q

Agonal coagulation

A

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

53
Q

Postmortem edema

A

over-accumulation of tissue fluids from hypostasis/gravitation

54
Q

Imbibition

A

causes postmortem edema, ability for cells to draw moisture from surrounding area into themselves.

55
Q

Tardieu spots

A

result from rupture of capillaries (18-24 hours postmortem). Dark pinpoint hemorrhages in the same dependent areas as livor mortis and postmortem stain. Common in slow deaths and death by ashpyxia.

56
Q

Nysten’s Law

A

directional occurrence of rigor mortis from the face to the feet

57
Q

Apparent Death

A

condition in which manifestations of life are feebly maintained

58
Q

antemortem

A

before death

59
Q

Apoptosis

A

Antemortem
Cell suicide
Process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes (morphology) and death

60
Q

Decubitus Ulcers

A

Bedsores, example of Necrobiosis

61
Q

Changes in agonal period

A

Thermal changes: agonal algor, agonal fever
Circulatory changes: Agonal Hypostasis, Agonal Coagulation (congealing)
Moisture Changes: Agonal Edema, Agonal dehydration

62
Q

Other types of translocation Agonally

A

Gas in the tissue (antemortem subcutaneous emphysema, gas gangrene)
Therapeutic agents (chemotherapuetic agents, blood thinners, antibiotics, vasodilators)

63
Q

Signs of death

A
  • cessation of respiration
  • cessation of circulation
  • complete muscular relaxation
  • Changes in eye
  • postmortem lividity
  • rigor mortis
  • algor mortis
  • decomposition
64
Q

Changes in eye postmortem

A
  • clouding of cornea
  • lost of luster of conjunctiva
  • flattening of eyeball
  • pupil dilation, non-response to light
65
Q

Postmortem Physical changes

A
  • algor mortis
  • hypostasis
  • livor mortis (cadaveric lividity)
  • dehydration
  • blood viscosity increase
  • translocation of microorganisms
66
Q

Postmortem Chemical changes

A
  • postmortem caloricity
  • postmortem stain
  • change in body pH
  • Rigor mortis
  • Decomposition
67
Q

Postmortem factors contributing to translocation include:

A
  • chemical and physical changes
  • movement and positional changes of the body
  • Passive recirculation of blood from contaminated body sites
  • thrombus fragmentation and relocation
  • Intestinal Bacilli mobility
68
Q

Petechia Hemorrhage

A

Antemortem, pinpoint extravascular blood discoloration visible as a purplish hemorrhage of the skin. (considered hematoma)

69
Q

Tardieu spot

A

Postmortem. Extravascular blood discoloration caused by rupture of minute rupture of minute vessels as blood settles. 18-24 hours after death. (considered heamtoma) Petechia 1-2mm, Purpura 3mm-1cm, Eccymoses >1cm

70
Q

Change in body pH

A

Normal pH is 7.4. After death there is a drop in pH of blood and tissue fluid.
- body remains acidic during rigor mortis and then gradually, as decomp. advances, becomes increasingly alkaline
- During rigor mortis the pH as low as 5 -6
- During advanced decomp, pH returns to alkaline register

71
Q

Hydrolysis

A

most important factor. Chemical reaction in which bonds of a substance are split by addition or taking up of water. First chemical reaction in the putrefactive process.

72
Q

Saccharolysis

A

Decomp. of sugars

73
Q

Proteolysis

A

Decomp of proteins.
two types: Putrefaction and Decay.

74
Q

Lipolysis

A

Decomp of fats. Adipocere (grave wax) final product of decomp.

75
Q

Timeline of Decomposition

A
  • Carbohydrates
  • Soft proteins
  • Fats
  • Hard proteins
  • bones
    Organs:
  • First: Lining membrane of the trachea and larynx, except for the brain of an infant and the pregnant uterus
  • Last: non-pregnant uterus or large blood vessels in the male and female. Vascular system.
76
Q

Signs of Decomposition

A
  • color change (green, brownish purple)
  • odor (cadaverine and putrecine)
  • gas
  • purge
  • Desquamation
77
Q

Types of purge

A

stomach - coffee grounds
lung - frothy
Usually both exit from mouth and nose

78
Q

Decomposition Intrinsic factors

A
  • age
  • sex
  • corpulence
  • cause and manner of death
  • bacterial and parasitic activity
  • pharmaceutical agents
79
Q

Decomposition Extrinsic factors

A
  • air
  • moisture
  • temp. (below 32 stop decomp, opt 98, max 120 will also halt)
  • bacterial and parasitic activity
  • pressure due to earth or clothing
  • vermin: maggots, lice, rats
80
Q

Expert tests for death

A
  • stethoscope
  • ophthalmoscope
  • injections of various dyes into blood to test circulation
  • electronic life detection devices
  • evoked response
81
Q

Inexpert tests for death

A
  • mirror fogging
  • ligature test
  • ammonia injection test
  • check for a pulse
  • listen for respiration or heartbeat

Embalming Theory (5 decks)

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