embalming general stuff Flashcards
what governing bodies regulate embalming
- OSHA
- FTC
- EPA
- state health departments
humans remains also include…
cremated remains
sanitation vs disinfection
- sanitation cleans the environment
- disinfection cleans the body
embalming only temporarily…
preserves the body to give time for funeral plans
before any disposition is made…
identification of the decedent needs to occur (best way is DNA matching)
examples of primary disinfection
spraying with disinfectant chemicals and washing the human remains
examples of concurrent disinfection
placing instruments in a sterilizing tray and washing throughout the embalming process
examples of terminal disinfection
sterilizing equipment, washing the body, washing the table
thanatology is the study of what
death
signs of ‘death’
- decomposition
- presence of macroorganisms like maggots
- cessation of circulation and respiration
-complete muscular relaxation - rigor mortis
- algor mortis
- livor mortis
- changes to the eyes
bacteria translocation
- as body begins to die, bacteria will continue to thrive
- said bacteria will move from the gastrointestinal tract throughout the body
- this is noticed by the green discoloration in the abdomen
postmortem physical changes examples
- algor mortis
- moisture (desiccation or imbibition)
- increased blood viscosity (agglutination)
postmortem chemical changes examples
- decomposition
- pH change
- rigor mortis
- discolorations
- postmortem caloricity
how many essential amino acids are there
20-22
what is affected by the presence of formaldehyde and then causes the fixation of tissue
amino acid bonds
signs of decomposition
- color changes
- odor
- purge
- desquamation
- gas accumulation
order of breakdown of compounds in the body
1st = carbohydrates
2nd = proteins
3rd = fats
4th = bones
order of viscera breakdown
1st = lining of the membrane of the trachea and larynx
last = non pregnant uterus/prostate
stages of decomp
- freshly deceased
- bloating
- active decay
- advanced decay
- skeletal remains/dry
whats the pH of blood
7.35-7.45
what does the pH shift to when the body is in rigor mortis
5-6
during advanced decomp what pH will the body shift to
11
stages of rigor mortis
- primary flaccidity (4-6 hours)
- full rigor (4-6 hours)
- secondary flaccidity
when is the best time to embalm
when body is in primary flaccidity before rigor has time to set in
where does rigor begin
with the eyes
steps of a complete embalming procedure
- preliminary procedures
- primary disinfection
- washing of the body
- position the head
- position arms and hands
- shaving
- set eyes
- set mouth
- raise vessels
- chemicals
- setting the machine pressure and flow
- injection and drainage
- suturing
- cavity embalming
- additional embalming treatment
what position should the head be in
tilted at a 15 degree angle to the right
what face features gives the face its ‘expression’ in death
the mouth
ways of mouth closure
- needle injector
- musculature suture
- mandibular suture
artery facts
- takes blood away from heart
- creamy white in color
- thick walls so lumen won’t collapse when incised
- elastic
vein facts
- carry blood back to heart
- have blue color
- collapse when incised
atheroma
fatty deposits
arteriosclerosis
thickening of arteries
varices
varicose veins
clots
thick clump of blood and tissues
embolus
free floating particles in the bloodstream. may be a clot or air bubble, or thrombi that has broken free
thrombus
stationary clot or particle that restricts blood flow
phlebitis
inflammation of the vein
hemorrhage
rupture of the vein
endocarditis
inflammation of the lining of the heart
tuberculosis
disease causing fluid in the lungs
febrile disease
may cause dehydration
different incision types for arteries
- transverse
- longitudinal
- t incision
- triangular/wedge
strong index fluid range
26-36% formaldehyde
medium index fluid range
16-25% formaldehyde
low index fluid range
5-15% formaldehyde
typical injection pressure for the head
2-3lbs
typical injection pressure for the body in general
10-20lbs
what arteries are used in a 6 point injection
left and right - common carotids, axillaries, and femorals
distal injection vs proximal injection
- distal is when the cannula is placed so injection is away from the trunk
- proximal is when the cannula is placed so injection goes toward the trunk
signs of fluid distribution
- vessel distension
- adequate drainage
- color changes in decedent
- color from movement of dye
signs of fluid diffusion
- firming of tissues
- drying of tissues
- tissue distension
- bleaching
the 9 abdominopelvic regions
1st row = right hypochondrium, epigastric region, left hypochondrium
2nd row = right lumbar, umbilical region, left lumbar
3rd row = right iliac region, hypogastrium, left iliac region
trocar insertion point for aspiration is
2 inches to the left and 2 inches superior to the umbilicus
trocar guide for stomach
towards the left mid axillary line and left firth intercostal space
trocar guide for cecum
1/4th of the distance from the right anterior superior iliac spine to the pubic symphysis
trocar guide for urinary bladder
towards the median line of the pubic symphysis/bone
trocar guide for right atrium of the heart
towards the lobe of the right ear
trocar guide for brain
through the cribriform plate through the nose
infants have what water composition
75%
for an infant what can be used for injection
the abdominal aorta - incision made in the middle of the abdomen to the left of the midline
what injection pressure should be used for infants
4-6lbs with pulsation
purge can be caused by
- gas buildup
- decomposition
- pressure from injection
- pathological conditions
skin donation can be either
full thickness (skin removed down to the muscle) or partial thickness (only a few layers)
dermatone
instrument used to recover/remove the outer most layer of skin
what kind of discoloration is hypostasis
antemortem intravascular (blue/black color)
what kind of discoloration is carbon monoxide poisoning
antemortem intravascular (cherry red)
what kind of discoloration is livor mortis
postmortem intravascular (settling blood)
what kind of discoloration is ecchymosis
antemortem extravascular
what kind of discoloration is petechia
antemortem extravascular (pinpoint bleeding)
what kind of discoloration is hematoma
antemortem extravascular (blood filled swelling)
what kind of discoloration is post mortem stain
postmortem extravascular
what is a mycotic infection
a fungal infection
frozen remains should be
left to thaw out completely before embalming
- hot water avoided
anatomical guide vs linear guide vs anatomical limit
- anatomical guide = finding something by reference of adjacent structures
- linear guide = imaginary line drawn on surface to represent a structure within
- anatomical limits = the point of origin and termination
common carotid anatomical guide
left and right CC are posterior to the medial border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
common carotid linear guide
line from the sternoclavicular articulation to the bottom of the earlobe
right common carotid anatomical limit
begins at the right sternoclavicular articulation and extends to the superior border of the thyroid cartilage
left common carotid anatomical limit
begins at the level of the second costal cartilage and extends to the superior border of the thyroid cartilage
common carotid accompanying vein
- internal jugular vein
- is superficial and lateral to the artery (VNA)
facial arteries anatomical guide
along inferior border of mandible just anterior to the angle of the mandible
facial arteries accompanying vein
facial veins
subclavian anatomical guide
clavicle
right subclavian anatomical limit
begins at the sternoclavicular articulation and terminates at the border of the first rib
left subclavian anatomical limit
begins at the level of the second costal cartilage and terminates at the lateral border of the first rib
subclavian accompanying vein
brachiocephalic veins
axillary anatomical guide
posterior to the medial border of the coracobrachialis muscle
axillary linear guide
through center of the base of the axillary space (armpit) and parallel to long axis of the upper extremity when abducted
axillary anatomical limit
begins at the lateral border of the first rib and terminates at the inferior border of the tendon of the teres major muscle
axillary accompanying vein
- axillary vein
- medial and superficial to the axillary arteries
brachial anatomical guide
lies posterior to the medial border of the belly of the biceps brachii muscle
brachial linear guide
from the center of the base of the axillary space (armpit) to center of the forearm just below the bend of the elbow
brachial anatomical limit
begins at the inferior border of the tendon of the teres major muscle and terminates at a point just inferior to the antecutibtal fossa (elbow pit)
brachial accompanying vein
- basilic veins
- medial and superficial to brachial artery
radial anatomical guide
just lateral to the tendon of flexor carp radialis muscle
radial linear guide
on surface of forearm from center of the antecutical fossa (elbow pit) to the center of the base of the index
radial anatomical limit
extends from a point approximately 1 inch below the bend of the elbow to a point over the base of the thumb
radial accompanying vein
radial vein
ulnar anatomical guide
just lateral to the tendon of flexor carp ulnaris muscle
ulnar linear guide
on surface of forearm from center of the antecubital fossa (elbow pit) to a point between the ring and pinky fingers
ulnar anatomical limits
extends from a point approximately 1 inch below the bend of the elbow to a point over the pisiform bone (in wrist above pinky finger)
ulnar accompanying vein
ulnar veins
external iliac anatomical guide
the medial border of the psoas major muscle
external iliac accompanying vein
external iliac vein
femoral anatomical guide
through the center of the femoral triangle bounded laterally by the sartrorius and medially by the adductor longus muscle
femoral linear guide
on surface of thigh from center of inguinal ligament to center point on the medial condyle of the femur
femoral anatomical limit
begins at the point posterior to the center of the inguinal ligament and terminates at the opening in the adductor magnus muscle
femoral accompanying vein
- femoral veins
- medial at the inguinal ligament, progressing to immediately posterior at the apex of the femoral triangle
popliteal anatomical guide
begins at opening of adductor magnus muscle and terminates at the interior border of popliteus muscle
popliteal linear guide
through the center of the popliteal space (knee pit) parallel to the long axis of lower extremity
popliteal accompanying vein
popliteal veins
anterior tibial linear guide
from the lateral border of the patella to the anterior surface of the ankle joint
anterior tibial accompanying vein
anterior tibial veins
dorsalis pedis linear guide
from the center of the anterior surface of the ankle joint to a point between the first and second digits
posterior tibial linear guide
from center of popliteal space (knee pit) to point midway between medial malleolus and calcaneus
posterior tibial accompanying vein
posterior tibial vein
dorsalis pedis accompanying vein
dorsalis pedis veins
ventral vs dorsal
- ventral = front
- dorsal = back
cranial vs caudal
- cranial = top side/towards head
- caudal = bottom/towards feet
pressure needs to be applied to
overcome intravascular and extravascular resistance that may be present
refrigeration units or coolers should be at what temp
38-40 degrees F
