Vocab Flashcards
ABSCESS
a localized accumulation of pus.
ABSORPTION
the process of taking in, as in a colored object which absorbs certain rays of light and reflects other rays giving the object its recognizable color
ABUT
To touch or contact as with the tarsal plates of the closed eyelids.
ACCESSORY CHEMICAL
Group of chemicals used in addition to vascular (arterial) and Cavity embalming fluids; includes but is not limited to hardening compounds, preservative powders, sealing agents, mold preventative agents, and pack application agents
ACETONE
dimethylketone; a colorless liquid which is used to soften and remove scabs; a solvent for restorative wax, or a stain remover.
ACQUIRED
presents itself after birth
ACQUIRED IMMUNE DERICIENCY SYNDROME / AIDS
A specific group of diseases or Conditions which are indicative of severe immunosuppression related to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (MV); persons dead having had AIDS may exhibit conditions such as wasting syndrome, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and Kaposi’s sarcoma.
ACTION LEVEL / AL-EXPOSURE LIMITS
These levels are established to ensure adequate protection of employees at exposures below the OSHA limits, but to minimize the compliance burdens for employers whose employees have exposures below the 8 hour permissible exposure limit (PEL) The AL for formaldehyde is 0.5 ppm.
ACTIVE CAPILLARY CONGESTION
occurs when the arterial supply to an area of the body is increased
ACTIVE DYES/STAINING DYES/COSMETIC DYES
Dyes which aid in restoring a life-like surface pigmentation to a body and also stain the body tissue cells.
ACTUAL PRESSURE
That pressure which is indicated by the injector gauge needle when the arterial tube is open and the arterial solution is flowing into the body
ABRASION
Antemortem injuries resulting from friction of the skin against a firm object resulting in the removal of the epidermis
ACUTE
a disease with a more or less rapid onset and short duration
ADIPOCERE aka GRAVE WAX
Soft whitish crumbly or greasy material that forms upon the
Postmortem hydrolysis and hydrogenation of body fats
ADDISON’S DISEASE
Disease resulting from a deficiency in the secretion of adrenocortical hormones, with “bronze” discoloration of the skin and electrolyte imbalances.
ADSORPTION
Assimilation of gas, vapor, or dissolved matter by the surface of a solid or liquid
AEROBIC
In the presence of free oxygen
AEROSOL
Colloidal solution dispensed as a mist
AEROSOLIZATION
To disperse as an aerosol; minute particles of blood and water become atomized and suspended in air when water under pressure meets the blood drainage or when flushing an uncovered flush sink
AGGLUTINATION
Intravascular: the increase of viscosity of blood brought about by the clumping of particulate formed elements in the blood vessels which is a specific type of congealing.
AGONAL ALGOR
Decrease in body temperature immediately before death
AGONAL BACTERIAL MIGRATION
A process which is the result of capillary permeability changes, where the bacteria from the intestinal area of the body migrate to the blood vascular system and is spread throughout the body.
AGONAL COAGULATION
In reference to blood, a change from a fluid into a thickened mass.
AGONAL DEHYDRATION
The loss of moisture from the living body during the agonal state.
AGONAL EDEMA
Escape of blood serum from an intravascular to an extravascular location immediately before death
AGONAL EXUDATION
An outpouring of lymph into the peritoneal cavity
AGONAL FEVER
Increase in body temperature immediately before death.
AGONAL INTUSSUSCEPTION
An invagination of an upper segment of intestine within a lower segment.
AGONAL PERIOD
Period immediately before somatic death
AIR PRESSURE APPARATUS
A method of creating injection pressure with air forced under pressure into a fluid chamber that displaces the arterial solution by pushing it into the arterial system of the body.
ALBUMIN
a protein found in blood plasma
ALBUMINURIA
An abnormally excessive amount of albumin in the urine.
ALCOHOL
an organic compound containing one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups
ALDEHYDE
an organic compound containing one or more –CHO groups.
ALGOR MORTIS
Post-mortem cooling of the body to the surrounding temperature.
ALLERGEN
A material which can trigger an allergic reaction.
ALTERNATE DRAINAGE
Method of injection-drainage in which embalming solution is injected and then injection is stopped while drainage is open which is a type of restricted drainage.
AMERICAN CONGRESS OF GOVERNMENTAL INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS aka ACGIH
An organization of professional personnel in governmental agencies or educational institutions who are employed in occupational safety and health programs
AMINE
an organic compound containing nitrogen; any compounds formed from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by organic radicals.
AMINO ACID
Building blocks of which proteins are constructed, and the end products of protein digestion or hydrolysis Their basic formula is NH2-CHR-COOH an amino group, an alpha carbon, any aliphatic or aromatic radical, and a carboxyl group.
AMMONIA INJECTION TEST
Ammonia is injected hypodermically into the skin and if a reddish reaction occurs the body is still alive. This is a non expert test for death.
ANAEROBIC
In the absence of free oxygen
ANASARCA
Severe generalized edema
ANATOMICAL GUIDE
A descriptive reference for locating arteries and veins by means of anatomical structures which are known.
ANATOMICAL LIMITS
Points of origin and points of termination in relation to adjacent structures; used to designate the boundaries of arteries.
ANATOMICAL POSITION
The body is erect, feet together, palms facing forward, and thumbs are pointed away from the body.
ANEMIA
a decrease in the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin or both.
ANEURYSM
Localized abnormal dilation of outpocketing of a blood vessel resulting from a congenital defect or a weakness of the vessel wall
ANEURYSM HOOK
An embalming instrument that is used for blunt dissection and in raising vessels.
ANEURYSM NEEDLE
An embalming instrument that is used for blunt dissection and in raising vessels, which has an eye in the hook portion of the instrument for placing ligatures around the vessels.
ANGULAR BANDAGE SCISSORS
An instrument which is used for cutting bandages and/or clothing off the deceased.
ANGULAR SPRING FORCEPS
A multipurpose instrument used in the embalming process.
ANGULAR VEIN FORCEPS
An embalming instrument which has multiple uses, especially in helping remove blood from the veins.
ANOMALIES
Deviation from the normal
ANTECUBITAL
In front of the elbow/in the bend of the elbow
ANTEMORTEM
Before death
ANTERIOR
Toward the front
ANTERIOR NARES
the external openings of the nostril
ANTERIOR SUPERIOR ILIAC SPINE
A bony protuberance, that can be palpated topographically, found on the ilium, the superior, broad portion of the hipbone; the origin of the injuinal ligament and the sartorius muscle.
ANTIBODY
glycoprotein substance developed by the body in response to, and interacting specifically with, an antigen Also known as immunoglobulin.
ANTICOAGULANT FLUID
Ingredient of embalming fluids that retards the natural postmortem tendency of blood to become more viscous or prevents adverse reactions between blood and other embalming chemicals.
ANTIGEN
a foreign substance that stimulates the formation of antibodies that react specifically with it.
ANTISEPTIC
A non-toxic disinfectant suitable for the use on animal tissue.
ANTISEPSIS
the prevention or inhibiting of the growth of causative microorganisms.
APERTURE
Opening
APNEA
Death brought about by a cessation of respiration or improper functioning of the respiratory apparatus; one of three modes of death described by Bichat.
APPARENT DEATH
Condition in which the manifestations of life are feebly maintained.
AQUEOUS SOLUTION
A solution in which water is the solvent.
ARRHYTHMIA
Uneven heartbeat.
ARTERIAL (VASCULAR) FLUID
The concentrated, preservative, embalming chemical that will be diluted with water to form the arterial solution for injection into the arterial system during vascular embalming The purpose is for inactivating saprophytic bacteria and rendering the body tissues less susceptible to decomposition.
ARTERIAL SOLUTION
The mixture of arterial (vascular) fluid and water which is used for the arterial injection and may include supplemental fluids.
ARTERIAL TUBE
A tube used to inject embalming fluid into the body vascular system aka cannula.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
The term applied to a number of pathological conditions causing a thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries.
ARTERY FIXATION FORCEPS
An embalming instrument whose purpose is to hold arterial tubes in the arteries [2 hole or 3 hole clamp]
ARTERY AND VEIN SCISSORS
An embalming instrument used for cutting arteries and veins to enable insertion of the arterial tubes into the arteries and drain tubes into the veins
ARTICULATION
Place of union between two or more bones.
ARTICULO-MORTIS
The movement of blood from the heart and arteries into the capillaries
and veins, which occurs at the moment of death.
ASCITES
Accumulation of serous fluids in the peritoneal cavity.
ASEPSIS
Freedom from infection and from any form of life; sterility.
ASPHYXIA
Insufficient intake of oxygen resulting from numerous causes aka apnea.
ASPIRATION
Withdrawal of gas, fluids, and semi-solids from body cavities and hollow viscera by means of suction with an aspirator and a trocar.
ASTHENIA
Indicates a weakness or feebleness of any organ or function.
ATHEROMA
Fatty degeneration or thickening of the walls of the larger arteries occurring in atherosclerosis.
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
a form of arteriosclerosis marked by the deposition of lipids in the inner layer of arterial walls.
ATROPHY
a wasting, decrease in size of an organ or tissue.
AUTOCLAVE
Apparatus used for sterilization by steam pressure, usually at 250 F/ 120 C for a
specific time.
AUTOLYSIS
Self-destruction of cells; decomposition of all tissues by enzymes of their own Formation without microbial assistance.
AUTOLYTIC ENZYME
The body’s own digestive enzymes that are capable of destroying body cells (autolytic decomposition).
AUTOPSY
A postmortem examination of the organs and tissues of a body to determine cause of death or pathological condition; a necropsy.
BACTEREMIA
The presence of bacteria in the blood
BACTERICIDAL AGENT
Destructive to bacteria.
BACTERIOLYSIS
Destruction of bacteria by action of certain chemical substances.
BACTERIOSTATIC AGENT
Agent that has the ability to inhibit or retard bacterial growth No destruction of viability of the microorganism is implied.
BALSAMIC SUBSTANCE
Resins combined with oil; a fragrant, resinous, oily exudate from various trees and plants.
BASE OF THE AXILLARY SPACE
The armpit
ANTERIOR BOUNDARY
Established by drawing a line along the fold of skin which
envelops the lateral border of the pectoralis major muscle.
POSTERIOR BOUNDARY
Established by drawing a line along the fold of skin which envelops the lateral border of the latissimus dorsi muscle.
MEDIAL BOUNDARY
Established by drawing a line which connects the two points where the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles blend into the chest wall.
LATERAL BOUNDARY
Established by drawing a line which connects the two points where the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles blend into the arm.
BASKET WEAVE SUTURE aka CROSS STITCH
A network of stitches which cross the borders of a cavity or excision to anchor fillers and to sustain tissues in their proper position.
BIOLOGICAL DEATH
Irreversible somatic death, where life cannot be restored.
BISCHLOROMETHYL ETHER aka BCME
A carcinogen potentially produced when formaldehyde and sodium hypochlorite come into contact with each other; normally occurs only in a controlled laboratory setting and requires a catalyst.
BISTOURY
An embalming instrument which is a one piece scalpel used for making incisions and excisions.
BLEACHING AGENT
A chemical which lightens a skin discoloration.
BLISTER
a thin vesicle on the skin containing liquid matter.
BLOOD
Tissue that circulates through the vascular system and is composed of approximately 22% solids and 78% water.
BLOOD DISCOLORATION
Discolorations resulting from changes in blood composition, content, or location, either intravascularly or extravascularly.
BLOTCHED
having relatively large patches of color somewhat different from the remainder of the coloring.
BLUNT DISSECTION
The separation and pushing aside of the superficial fascia leading to blood vessels and then the deep fascia surrounding blood -vessels, utilizing manual techniques or round ended instruments which separate rather than cut the protective tissues.
BOIL aka FURUNCLE
Acute, deep-seated inflammation in the skin which usually begins as a subcutaneous swelling in a hair follicle.
BONE SEPARATOR/SEPARATOR
An embalming instrument used to maintain the elevation of the vessels above the surface of the skin.
BRIDGE SUTURE aka TEMPORARY INTERRUPTED SUTURE
Individual stitch knotted at the tissue edge; may be applied prior to embalming to align tissues.
BRUISE
(ecchymosis) an injury caused by a blow without laceration; a contusion.
BUCCAL CAVITY
Vestibule of the oral cavity; the space between the lips, gums, and teeth.