Test 2 Flashcards
Death rattle
Respiratory gurgling in throat of dying person
Caused by lack of cough reflex
Moribund
A dying condition during Agonal period
Death struggle
Semi convulsive twitches that occur before death
Somatic death
The body loses physiological & metabolic activity
Brain death
If respiration & heartbeat are not reestablished
Biological death
Simple life processes of various organs and tissues cease
Post Mortem cellular death
Cells use up stored elements, overcome by autolytic processes & die
How long do each take to die? Brain & nerve cells Muscle cells Cornea cells Blood cells
5 min
3 hours
6 hours
6 hours
Necrobiosis
Natural death of cells
Necrosis
Cells die due to disease
Agonal algor
Cooling of body prior to death
Agonal hypostasis
Settling of blood into dependent tissues of body
Agonal coagulation
Blood begins to clot & congeal
Agonal capillary expansion
Opening of pores into walls of capillaries
Agonal edema
Increase in amount of moisture or fluids
Result from disease or capillary expansion
Agonal dehydration
Decrease in moisture or fluids
Results from disease or capillary expansion
Translocation
Movement of micros from one area to another
Physical changes
Brought on by forces of nature
Chemical change
Brought on by chemical changes
Algor Mortis
Postmortem cooling of the body
Body will cool to surrounding environment
Intrinsic factors vs extrinsic factors
Factors that affect cooling within body itself
Vs
Factors within surrounding environment
Hypostasis
Process in which blood settles
Livor Mortis
1/2 to 2 hours after death
Also known as postmortem lividity
Discoloration of skin from blood as a result from hypostasis
Imbibition
Ability of cells to draw moisture from surrounding areas into themselves
Sludge
Blood sticks together in clumps due to dehydration
Sludge does not allow for good drainage
5 post Mortem chemical changes
Postmortem caloricity Postmortem stain Shift in ph Rigor Mortis Decomposition
Post Mortem stain
Blood discoloration brought on by hemolysis of the blood
Fermentation
The process by which glucose breaks down
Factors that would speed up decomposition
Factors that would slow down decomposition
Hot room vs a cold room
Normal PH of body
7.4
Discuss Agonal changes & how they change physical & chemical makeup of the body
Physical- algor Mortis, cooling Dehydration Hypostasis Chemical-post Mortem stain Change in PH Rigor
What factors can speed or slow down Livor Mortis?
Blood volume & blood viscosity
Discuss PH changes in dead human body after death.
When we die our PH drops to 5.5 or 6.0
Acidic–> rigor Mortis
Increase in ammonia–> PH rises
6 stages of death
Agonal Somatic Clinical death Brain death Biological death Postmortem cellular death
8 signs of death
Cessation of circulation Cessation of respiration Complete muscular relaxation Algor Mortis: cooling Rigor Mortis: stiffening Changes in eye Decomp Post Mortem lividity
Agonal 4 period changes
- Temperature
* agonal fever. *agonal algor - Circular
- Moisture
- Translocation of micros
6 physical post Mortem changes
Algor Mortis Hypostasis Dehydration Livor Mortis Increase in blood viscosity Invasion of micros
5 chemical changes postmortem
Post Mortem Caloricity Change in PH Rigor Mortis Post Mortem stain Decomp
Cadaveric spasm
Violent death
No period of flaccidity
Death grip
5 Sign of decomp
Color, odor, skin slip, gases, purge
Intrinsic factors include?
Body temp @ time of death
Ratio of surface area of body to body mass
Combo of both
Extrinsic factors include?
Body coverings
Surrounding environment
Primary flaccidity
Muscles are relaxed as death occurs
Before rigor
Secondary flaccidity
Within 36 to 72 hours rigor passes naturally from a un embalmed body
Muscle proteins broken down
Autolysis
Cell self decomposition
Cells have self destruct mechanisms
When body goes from alkaline to acidic these cells rupture digest surrounding material
Hydrolysis
Single most important factor in initiation of decomp
Chemical reaction in which chemical bonds of a substance are split by taking in water
Expert test of death
Require training
Stethoscope-heart
Ophthalmoscope-eyes
EEG-brain activity
In expert test of death
Equipment and expertise for figuring out death not readily available
Ligature test-blood circulation
Pulse
Listening for heart beat
Arterial fluid also called?
Vascular fluid
Preservative fluid
Concentrated embalming fluid
Arterial fluid has an index*
Arterial solution also called?
Embalming solution
Primary dilution
Mixture you inject in body
Water, dye, etc
Cavity fluid
Concentrated
Cavity embalming
Surface & hypodermic embalming
NOT arterially injected
Supplemental fluids
Also known as?
Co-injection fluid
No preservative or disinfection qualities
Example would be dye, water corrective
Accessory chemicals
Applied to body surfaces inside & out
Preservative
Formaldehyde + water =?
Formalize
Formalin components?
Water, methanol, & formaldehyde
Formalin % mass & % volume
37% weight
40% volume
Safe work practice when working with chemicals
Wear eye protection
Wear protective clothing
Wear gloves
Make sure ventilation systems are working
Wear a mask
Fill water in tank before adding chemicals
Strong
Medium
Weak
Embalming fluid
26-36
16-25
5-15
Index
Refers to amount of formaldehyde gas present. Measured in grams dissolved in 100ml of water
Preservation fluids
Reacts with proteins. Loves proteins.
Stops decomp
Disadvantage–> embalmers grey
Glutaraldehyde
Doesn’t firm tissue
Accessory chemicals examples
Autopsy gels
Hardening compounds
Powdered sealing agents
Use for autopsy gels
Applied as a disinfectant & odor reducer
Used to bleach un-colored areas such as post Mortem stains
Used to pack anal orifice
Hardening compounds
Blends of powdered chemicals
They dry moist tissue.
Some contain deodorants & disinfect
Primary use is in the cavity of autopsied bodies
Preservative Powder main ingredient
Preserves tissue
Paraformaldehyde
Four steps for embalming analysis
- observation & eval
- Proposed methods of treatment
- Implementations
- Observation of results
General embalming analysis factors & embalming treatments
Body condition, age
Cause & manner of death
Effect of disease
Positioning of body
Method of mouth & eye closure
Vessels for drainage/injecting
3 guidelines to be considered in making an embalming analysis
- The body must be seen at all stages
- Prepare each body as if he/she is infected
- Prepare each body as if viewing will be delayed
3 embalming analysis steps
- Pre embalming analysis
- During arterial injection
- Evaluation of body after arterial embalming
Pre Embalming Analysis
Part I
- General condition of body
- Effects of diseases
- Effects of drugs or surgeries
- Post Mortem interval & effects
During arterial injection
Stage II
What areas of body are receiving arterial solution?
What areas are not receiving?
What can be done to better stimulate flow?
Are the tissues firming?
Evaluation of the body after
Part III
Are the features set properly?
Is the body well groomed?
Are the body and hair washed & dried?
Is there any leakage?
Post Embalming Monitoring
Dehydration? Purge? Odor? Softening tissues? Tissue gas?
Embalming treatment for decomp?
Restricted cervical injection
Strong solutions
Dye
Surface treatments where needed
Embalming treatment for long time refrigeration?
Restricted cervical injection
Stronger solution than average
Avoid pre injection
Circulation problems expected
Embalming treatment for emaciation
Restricted drainage
Add humectants to last injection
Mild solution in large volume
Embalming treatment for arteriosclerosis in femoral artery
Go to common carotid & use jugular
Solution a little stronger than normal
Preliminary preparation of the body
Spray topical disinfectant on clothes
Transfer body to table
Roll back & forth to remove sheet
Check for valuables
Moving a body
Always try to use lifts
Always pull body towards you, don’t push
7 mouth closure techniques
Needle injector Muscular suture Mandibular suture Dental tie Drill & wire Chin rest Gluing the lips
Mouth closure vs lip closure
Mouth closure raises & holds lower jaw into position
Lip closure brings together the mucous membranes
List several reasons for placing support beneath the shoulders
Helps dry the body
Assist drainage
Prevent gravitation of blood into facial tissues after embalming
Assist in draining edema
Several uses for massage cream
To remove Cosmo
To moisten face after shaving avoid dehydration
Protects from surface dehydration
Skin cleanser
Protects face from damage in case of stomach purge
3 levels of body position
Head
Chest
Abdomen
How does upper mucous membrane differ from lower?
Upper is generally longer & thinner
Purpose of embalming fluid
Disinfect
Preserve
Restore
Function of arterial fluid
Firms tissue
Kills bacteria
Unite with proteins to preserve
Cosmetic fluid
Active dyes
Changes color of tissue
Non cosmetic fluids
No dyes
Do not change color of tissue
Formaldehyde advantage
Soluable in water
Does not separate
Deodorizes
Breaks down quickly
Disadvantage of formaldehyde
Possible carcinogen
Embalmers grey
Unpleasent odor
Distributes poorly
6 components of embalming fluid
1 preservatives 2 disinfectants 3 modifying agent 4 vehicle 5 dye 6 perfume
Disinfectant also know as?
Germicidal
Kills disease micros
Modifying agents
Enhance function of arterial fluids
Retain moisture
4 types of modifying agents
Humectants-add umphh
Buffers-stabilize PH
Anti coagulants-water softener
Surfactants-lower tension on surface
Vehicle
Serves as a solvent
Formaldehyde dissolved in
Dye also known as?
Coloring agents
Surfactants also known as?
Surface active agents
Wetting agents
Surface tension reducer
Perfuming agents also known as?
Masking agents
Adds pleasant odor to solution
Disadvantage~~> masks harsh odor & you don’t know it. Nasal passage irritated
