Embalming Fluids Flashcards
Formaldehyde/Formalin
- Preservative
- Primarily used during arterial embalming
(Dodge: Introfiant)
Phenol
- Carbolic Acid
- Preservative and Germicide
- Found in arterial and cavity fluids
- Often used in medical cadavers
What is a modifying agent/Co-Injection Chemicals
Chemicals/fluids that control the rate of action of the main preservative chemicals.
Buffer
- modifying agent
- Control the acid-base balance of fluid and tissues (pH)
(Dodge: Rectifiant)
Humectant
- Modifying agent
- Help control tissue moisture balance
(Dodge: Restorative)
Anticoagulant
- modifying agent
- Water conditioning agent/ water softener
- intended to REDUCE WATER HARDNESS, improve drainage by preventing clots, improve dyes in arterial solution (they work better in alkaline conditions)
(Dodge: Proflow, Metaflow)
(Pierce: One- Point)
Surfactant
- Modifying agent
- Wetting agents, surface tension reducers, penetrating agents, or surface active agents
- Helps with drainage
- lowering surface tension lowers capillary attraction, which is the force that attracts liquid in the capillaries. Allows for liquid/blood to be easily loosened and flow
Dyes
- coloring agents
- active dye: imparts color to the body (Dodge: Icterine)
- Inactive dye: only changes the color of the fluid
Other Notable Co-Injection/Modifying Chemicals
- Edema Preventative (Dodge: Edemaco)
- Gas Preventative (Dodge: Halt GX)
Distribution
- Movement of arterial solutions from the point of injection to distal parts of the body
- the arterial solution moving throughout the arteries
Diffusion
Movement of the arterial solution from the vascular system into the surrounding tissues (occurring at the capillaries)
Examples of Preservatives
- Alcohols (methanol, ethanol, isopropanol)
- Aldehydes (Mathanal/Formaldehyde, Gluteraldehyde, Ethanal/Acetaldehyde)
- Phenolic Compounds (phenol, phenolic derivatives)
Examples of Supplemental Germicides
- Chemicals added specifically for the purpose of destroying disease causing microorganisms
- QUATS, glutaraldehyde
Glutaraldehyde
- supplemental germicide, preservative, surface disinfectant
Examples of Dyes
- esoine (Active orange dye)
- erythrosine (Active red dye)
- ponceau red (inactive red dye)
Examples of deodorants or perfuming agents
- ester
- Methyl salicylate
- Oil of wintergreen
- Benzaldehyde
- Oil of bitter almonds
- Oil of sassafras
- Oil of cloves
Examples of Vehicles/Diluents/Solvents
- solvents that serve as the carriers of the components in embalming fluid
- Water (water is not an organic solvent)
- Alcohols
- Organic solvents
Examples of Humectants
- chemicals used to create an increase capability for embalmed tissues to retain moisture
- Glycerol/glycerine
- sorbitol
- Glycols
- non-alcohol lanolin
Lanolin
An emollient: a chemical that gives a soft lifelike feel
examples of buffers
- chemicals that have an effect on the acid base balance of solutions
- borax (sodium borate)
- Sodium phosphate
- Side treats
- EDTA
Examples of Water conditioning agents/water softeners/ anticoagulants/ sequestering agents
- neutralize is the calcium or magnesium ions in the water that causes blood coagulate
- Sodium citrate
- EDTA
- Oxalate salts
Examples of Surfactants/surface active agents/ wetting agent/ surface tension reducer/ penetrating agent
- Sulfonates
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
Hardening compounds (and examples)
- Solid autopsy chemicals used to treat the viscera and the cavities of an autopsied body
- Paraformaldehyde (preservative)
- Aluminum chloride (dehydrating agent)
- alum (dehydrating agent)
- Plaster of Paris (dehydrating agent)
- Perlite (filler)
- Vermiculite (filler)
- Cellulose (filler)
- Sawdust (filler)
