Embalming 2 Exam 1 Flashcards
They are injected to disinfect, temporarily preserve and restore the dead human body without causing objectionable change in the tissues.
Vascular (ARTERIAL) fluids
Examples of risk or dangers of injecting vascular chemicals:
- Distention/swelling
2. Adverse color change
Why called vascular arterial fluid
85% of blood shift to venous side.
Most arteries have less intravascular resistance. None disease arteries have smmoth inner surface with no liquid coming out when open.
Generally classified by index
Lowest index is in jaundice fluid is 8-10 highest index 36 (as preservatives - only formaldehyde)
50 index uses other chemicals besides formaldehyde
Have 3 different index on shelf
3 classifications of Vascular/Arterial fluids
Strong, Medium, Weak
(the number of grams of formaldehyde gas dissolved in 100 ml of water); usually given in a percentage.
index
having an index of 28 - 36.
Causes a rapid tissue coagulation.
Causes a definite degree of firmness,
used most often on “special cases.” (Ship-out, floaters, decomposition, edema (edemaco), outgoing, drowning, etc.)
Saturation point of formaldehyde within the product is 37% by weight and 40 % by volume
Strong (high)
having an index of 19 - 27.
Sometimes referred to as semi-firming or cosmetic fluid. (Oil based / cosmetic fluid/shade pink or red or orange).
Results in a more natural texture/tone & moderate firming of tissues. Normal Cases
Max preservation time is 7-10 days
Medium (cosmetic arterial fluid)
any fluid with an index of 8 - 18.
Produces a minimum firmness of tissues.
Least amount of firming action
Infant cases or emaciated adults 80 lbs or less
Immersion embalming recommended for infants
Weak
Components of arterial fluids
Preservative Supplementary Germicides Anticoagulants Vehicle Perfuming Agents/Masking Agents
Chemical which inactivates saprophytic bacteria renders unsuitable for nutrition the media upon which bacteria thrive, and which will arrest decomposition by altering enzymes of the body as well as converting the decomposable tissue to a form less susceptible to decomposition.
Preservative
Actions of preservative chemicals:
Inactivated the chemical group of proteins (muscles) amino acids Inhibits further decomposition Inactivates some enzymes Kills some microorganisms – not all Destroys odors
Examples of preservatives
Aldehydes
Alcohols
Phenol
general formula (R-CHO) functional group characteristic name ending in “-AL” (means ALCOHOL deprived of hydration – common name Formaldehyde)
Aldehydes
- Formaldehyde
- Gluteraldehyde
Produced by the partial oxidation of methylalcohol (methanol)
HCHO or CH 2 0
In its free state it is a gas – soluble in water which forms a formula. Water is the universal solvent. Every solvent has a different saturation rate.
Formaldehyde
Tries to prevent formaldehyde from converting to a solid form.
Used to manufacture formaldehyde.
Paraformaldehyde – solid form of formaldehyde
methylalcohol (methanol)
Characteristic of formaldehyde
Colorless gas (in its free state)
Has an irritating and unpleasant odor – pundgent
Freely soluble in water
Combines with tissue protein
Is a monoaldehyde (one functional aldehyde group; H-”CHO” ) one CHO - a dehydrating chemical
classified as a dialdehyde (Two functional aldehyde groups). Made of 5 carbons.
Reacts with protein over a wide pH range.
Rigor mortis is a post mortem chemical change* pH5
Gluteraldehyde
general formula R-OH with name ending in “-OL”
alcohols
- Methyl alcohol
- Ethyalcohol
(wood alcohol) Formula: CH3 OH
1st use - Used commercially to manufacture formaldehyde
2nd use - Added to production of chemical antipolymerizeing agent to prevent poloritization ie: telflon
Methyalcohol (methanol)
(grain alcohol) only one fit for human consumption
Ethyalcohol (ethanol)
obtained by the distillation of coal tar. Formula: C6 H5 OH
1. cauterizer – use to prevent leakage on embalmed bodies
2. bleaching agent - inject it do not use as a surface application
Phenol
Chemicals added for the purpose of destroying disease causing microorganisms.
Supplementary Germicides
Types of Supplementary Germicides:
Glutaraldehyde
Quaternary ammonium compounds
better disinfectant used as a supplementary germicide.
Glutaraldehyde
agents that are usually used for disinfection of skin, oral, nasal cavities, and instruments. EXAMPLES: Benzalkonium and Zephrian
Quaternary ammonium compounds
Chemicals which retard the tendency of blood to become more viscous by natural postmortem processes or prevent adverse reactions between blood and other embalming chemicals.
Anticoagulants
(This process is primarily accomplished by breaking down the calcium in the blood and water.)
Also known as water conditioners or water softeners. These chemicals help keep blood in a liquid state.
Anticoagulants
Examples of anticoagulants
Sodium citrate
Sodium salt of EDTA
white, odorless, crystalline or granular material is often used for its anticoagulation. This compound inactivates calcium in the blood as well as in the water supply. W/O calcium, blood coagulation does not occur. (1st of 2 chemicals that have dual purpose in embalming)
Sodium citrate
very effective sequestering or chelating agents, means – they are readily combined with calcium ions to prevent blood coagulation and also to remove hardness chemicals from the water supply.
Sodium salt of EDTA
Liquids that serve as a solvent for the numerous ingredients that are incorporated into embalming fluids.
They must serve as the carrier of the components found in the arterial solution.
Vehicle
Most common is water.
Alcohols will also serve as a vehicle. (tincture)
Chemicals having the capability of displacing an unpleasant odor or of altering an unpleasant odor so that it is converted to a more pleasant odor.
Perfuming agents or masking agents
Examples of perfuming agents
Methylsalicylate (oil of wintergreen) Benzaldehyde (oil of almonds) Oil of sassafras Oil of cloves (Perfuming agents do not eliminate the effects that formaldehyde has on the operator.)
Substances which will, upon being dissolved, impart a definite color to the embalming solution and/or body tissues.
Dyes (coloring agents)
Classifications of Dyes:
Cosmetic dyes (active) Non-cosmetic (inactive)
will impart a color to the body tissue. 1 to 2 oz
Cosmetic dyes (active)
will stain the concentrated arterial fluid.
Non-cosmetic (inactive)
Examples of dyes (active)
- Eosin - red
- Ponceau red - red
- Erythrosine - brown-red tint.
Also called - surface tension reducers, wetting agents, surface active agents.
A chemical that reduces the molecular cohesion of a liquid so that it can flow through smaller apertures.
Used in promoting fluid diffusion.
Chemicals in dishwashing detergents that prevent sports on glasses.
Surfactants:
Example of sufactants (wetting agents)
Sulfonate oils -
Sodium lauryl sulfate (coconut oil)
Chemicals added to the embalming solution to deal with varying demands based upon the type of embalming, the environment, and the embalming fluid to be used.
Chemicals which control the rate and extent of embalming operation.
Modifying agents
- Humectants
- Buffers
A chemical that increases the ability of embalmed tissue to retain moisture (chemical that helps to control dehydration) used on emaciated/loss of tissue & dehydrated cases
Humectants
Chemicals used as humectaus are:
a. Glycerol – thick stuff, member of alcohol family (glycerin)
b. Sorbitol - has 5 OH
c. Lanolin’s – message cream, oil based. Emollient
d. Glycol – has 2 OH groups – dihydroxy alcohol, active ingredients in radiator fluid.
Chemicals that will affect the acid-base balance (pH) within embalming solutions and in the embalmed tissue.
Buffers
Buffers Examples
a. Borax – reduces the hardening & graying action of formaldehyde.
b. Citrates
c. Sodium salt of EDTA
d. Sodium Phosphates -
Formulated to produce maximum disinfection and preservation with a minimum amount of fluid.
Cavity fluids
Composition of cavity fluid.
- Preservatives
- Germicides
- Vehicle (primarily alcohols)
- Perfuming agents
Fluid injected primarily to prepare the vascular system and body tissues for the injection of the preservative vascular solution. These fluids will also help keep the blood in a liquid state.
Pre-injection fluids
Components of pre-injection fluids
- Anticoagulants
- Surfactants
- Humectants
- Vehicle (primarily water)
- Water Conditioning Agents
- No concentration of a preservative, if any.
A fluid(s) used primarily to supplement and enhance the action of the vascular (arterial) solution.
Co-injection fluids
A special vascular fluid with special bleaching and coloring qualities for use on bodies with jaundice; usually with a low formaldehyde content. (16 oz per 1 Gal)
Jaundice fluids
Components of jaundice fluids:
Bleaching agents
High concentration of dye (red)
Low formaldehyde (HCHO) content
A chemical in power form that has the ability to absorb and has a limited amount of disinfection ability. (sold in powder form 25-50 lbs pails)
Hardening compounds
Composition
Plaster of Paris - dehydrating agent
Paraformaldehyde - white solid form of formaldehyde, disinfectant
Wood power - dehydrating agent, moisture absorbent
Alum - dehydrating agent
1
A chemical in power form; typically used for surface embalming of remains.
Will help to control maggots and vermin.
Usually has a high concentration of preservative - Paraformaldehyde
They do not have the absorbent and drying qualities.
Preservative Powers
Materials used to provide a barrier or seal against any type of leakage of fluid or blood.
Sealing agents
Types Sealing agents
Power
Spray
Liquids
Either in a liquid or gel form, used to dry and harden lesions, excisions and cavities.
Surface applications
any substance that imperils/hinders health or life when absorbed into the body.
Poison
poisonous substance produced by higher plants, animals, or bacteria that is toxic or poisonous to humans.
Toxin
Lethal Dose 50%, amount poison or radiation that will kill 50% or ½ of the group to whom it has been given.
LD – 50
smallest dose of poison or radiation on record that causes death. EXOTOXIN 0.00001gm or 8oz of milk – botchulism
MLD – Minimum Lethal Dose
polish remover, solvent used to clean ink off fingerprinted hands, on cotton to rid fingerprint from wax.
acetones
methanol, wood alcohols 1used commercially to manufacture formaldehyde, 2 used as anti-polymerizing agent to prevent formaldehyde returning to solid state.
alcohols
grain alcohol, used as preservatives, vehicle in cavity fluids.
Ethanol
have presence of at least one halogen, chemical name “Group 7 Elements”, common name is salt formers. Chlorine, florine, bromine, iodine, carbon tetrachchloride (solvent)
alkyl halides
3 c1’s Chloroform used as a disinfectant
4 c1’s Carbon Tectrachloride – solvent or used as instrument disinfection
1
used in powder form, added to jaundice fluids as active red dye
amaranth (red dye #2)
white crystal solid substance used as herbicide, added to hardening compound & preservatives powders
amitrole
(NH3) active ingredient in disinfection chemicals, used to neutralize formaldehyde. acid to base = salts (urotropin) plus water.
ammonia
key tone derived from the tree from the same name, used as solvent.
camphor
lysol – used as a disinfectant / deodorizer air freshener
cresol
light brown powder used as fungicide / kills fungus, prevent future mold growth
dichlorophene
colorless liquid used as solvent
diethanol amine
colorless oily liquid used as a solvent
diethyl formamide
clear liquid with fruit like odor used as perfuming agent.
ethyl acetate
used as anticoagulant in pre-injection & with co-injection chemicals used as buffer.
EDTA (Sodium salt)
in free state gas, soluble in water, used as preservative
formaldehyde
colorless liquid used as solvent and bleaching agent. Acidic when less than pH 7
formic acid
one of two supplementary germicides, for superior disinfectant than formaldehyde. has 5 carbon atoms, no glutaraldehyde standard
glutaraldehyde
dihydroxy alcohols, used as humectants and moisture retainments in embalming fluids ie (antifreeze).
glycols
bleaches NaOCl – sodium hyplorite – household bleach is the 1:10, exposed to formaldehyde it forms deadly orange gas
hypochlorites
substance used as propellent in aerosol spray products
isobutane
colorless liquid similar to acetone used as solvent
methyl ethyl ketone
turpentine, paint thinner used to clean cosmetics brushes
mineral spirits
(tissue builder) injection to help build-up/rebuild where tissue has been lost, injectu as liquid that turns to gel
nitrocellulose
colorless liquid used as insecticide. Added to preservative powders & embalming chemical gels
orthodichlorobenzene
colorless solid used as stripping agent
oxalic acid
(moth balls) & used as mold preventative agent.
paradichlorobenzene
white solid form of formaldehyde, main preservatives used in preservative powders.
paraformaldehyde
cauturiers prevents leakage / bleaching agents on hand do it as injection not a cavity pack when applied to skin (rust in color).
phenol / phenolic compounds
primary dehydrating agent used in hardening compound, Most funeral home keep it in solid granular powder form, used to create a cast of a broken area for restorative work in prep room
Plaster of Paris
used as a propellant in sprays. (BBQ gas) source of power.
propane
finishing powder comes in flesh or white color to take shine off oil based cosmetics
quartz
used for supplementary germicide
Benzalkonium
Zephrian Chloride
quaternary ammonium compounds
finishing powder comes in flesh or white color to take shine off oil based cosmetics
talc
colorless liquid used as solvent.
toluene
