Topic 1 - intro to death and dying

Question 1

What is death denial culture/society?

Answer 1

American society is considered death-denying culture. Don’t like to think or talk about it. Ex. Always afraid of dying (brushing hair, driving, etc.)

Question 2

How does embalming work?

Answer 2

Prepare body, setting facial feature, arterial embalming, cavity embalming

Question 3

What happens after death?

Answer 3

10 steps - cardiac arrest, body’s cells stop receiving oxygen, Rigor mortis sets in, livor mortis, body cools down, algor mortis, bacteria in body breaks down, insects lay eggs, fermentation process, dry decay

Question 4

What is rigor mortis?

Answer 4

stiffening of joints and muscles

Question 5

What is livor mortis?

Answer 5

Purple-red colouration of areas that have exposure to pressure. Also, the settling of blood from force of gravity

Question 6

What is algor mortis?

Answer 6

Change of body temperature post mortem

Question 7

Define inhumation/interment

Answer 7

Process of burying a corpse

Question 8

Define exhumation

Answer 8

Digging up a corpse

Question 9

What is a burial vault?

Answer 9

Concrete liner with a lid

Question 10

What are the stages of decomposition?

Answer 10

1. Initial decay - cells self-digest 2. Bloat - gases accumulate due to bacterial activity 3. Purge - skin ruptures, fluid and gas leak out of body 4. Advanced decay - body shrinks as maggots eat

Question 11

How does weather affect the body?

Answer 11

Hot weather - body will mummify (bacteria and insects can’t survive heat

Shade/colder weather - bacteria and maggots will eat flesh leaving the skeleton

Question 12

Which cells are the first to die?

Answer 12

Brain and nerve cells are first to die