Vocab Flashcards
Active dyes
Dyes which aid in restoring a life-like surface pigmentation to a body and also stain the body tissue cells
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
Anterior boundary (of axillary space)
Where the lateral border of the Pectoralis major meets the armpit and the medial border
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
Apparent death
Condition in which the manifestations of life are feebly maintained
Arterial fluid
The concentrate, 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 fluid and water which is used for the arterial injection and may include supplemental fluids
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 (abdominal edema)
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
Autoclave
Apparatus used for sterilization by steam pressure, usually at 250 F for a specific time
Base of the axillary space
The armpit
Biohazard
Biological agent or condition that constitutes a hazard to humans
Blood discoloration
Discolorations resulting from changes in blood composition, content, or location, either intravascularly or extra vascularly
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
Bruise a.k.a. Ecchymosis a.k.a. Contusion
An injury caused by a blow without laceration
Buccal cavity
Vestibule of the oral cavity; the space between the lips, gums, and teeth
Buffers
A chemical which affects the stabilization of the acid-base (pH) balance within embalming solutions and in the embalmed tissues
Cachexia a.k.a. Wasting syndrome
General deterioration of the body
Cadaveric spasm a.k.a. Instantaneous rigor mortis
A prolongation of the last violent contraction of the muscles into the rigidity of death
Calvarium
The dome like superior portion of the cranium; that portion removed during cranial autopsy
Canalization
Formation of new channels in a tissue
Capillary permeability
Ability of substances to diffuse through capillary walls into the tissue spaces
Carbohydrate
A compound of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen; sugars, starches, and glycogen
Cartilage
A specialized type of dense connective tissue; attached to the ends of bones and forming parts of structures, such as the nasal septum and the framework of the ear
Case analysis
The total sum of those considerations given the case at hand, beginning before the embalming procedure is begun and continuing throughout the operation
Catalepsy
A condition in which the vital signs of life are feebly maintained and there is a waxy rigidity of the body
Cauterizing agent
A chemical capable of drying tissues by searing; caustic
Cavitation
The formation of cavities in an organ or tissue; due to disease
Cavity injector
An embalming instrument which is connected to a bottle of cavity fluid to aid in injecting the cavity fluid into the various cells of the body
Chemical evaporation
Dehydration caused by using too harsh of an arterial solution to embalm a dead human body
Coinjection
The injection of a specialized chemical in conjunction with the routine arterial chemical
Cold stiffening
A condition which occurs in dead bodies when exposed to temperatures near or below the freezing point, thus causing the tissues to become firm and rigid
Colon
The part of the large intestine extending from the cecum to the rectum
Concentrated solution
A solution containing a relatively large amount of solute
Conjunctiva
Mucous membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white portion of the eye
Cornea
Transparent part of the tunic of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light into the interior
Cranium
That part of the human skull which encloses the brain
Cutis ansernia
A condition of skin puckering caused by the contraction of the erector pili
Death struggle
The semi-convulsive twitches which often occur before death
Death throe
Spasm of death
Death trance
A condition in which the muscles become rigidly fixed, the body becomes pale and cold, pulse and respiration are feeble
Deodorants a.k.a. Masking agents a.k.a. Perfuming agents
Chemicals having the capability of displacing an unpleasant odor or of altering an unpleasant odor so that it is converted to a more pleasant one
Dry gangrene
Condition that results when the body part that dies had little blood and remains aseptic and occurs when the arteries but not the veins are obstructed
Dye a.k.a. Coloring agent
Substances which will, upon vein dissolved, impart a definite color to the embalming solution dyes are classified as to their capacity the permanently impart color to the tissue of the body into which they are injected
Edema a.k.a. Dropsy
Abnormal accumulation of fluids in tissue or body cavities
Embolism
Free floating object in the blood stream
Engineering controls
Procedures that isolate or remove the bloodbourne pathogen hazard from the workplace such as sharps disposal container, self-sheathing needles
Eosin
A red florescent due that is a bromine derivative of fluorescein
Epistaxis
Bleeding from the nose
Facultative aerobe
Doesn’t like oxygen but can live with it
Facultative anaerobe
Prefers to have oxygen but can live without it
Fluorescein
A common due used to test for blood circulation
Gas gangrene
Antemortem necrosis in a wound infected by an anaerobic gas forming bacillus. Clostridium perfringens
Hardening compound
Chemical in powder form that has ability to absorb and to disinfect, often used in autopsied cases
Hematesis
Blood present in vomitus; vomiting of blood from the stomach
Hematuria
Discharge of red blood cells in the urine
Hemoptysis
Blood in sputum
Hermetic seal
Airtight seal; associated with Ziegler cases or soldered containers
Humectant
Chemical that increases the ability of embalmed tissue to retain moisture
Hydrocele
Abnormal accumulation of fluids in a saclike structure, especially the scrotal sac
Hydrothorax
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the thoracic cavity
Hypostasis
Antemortem and or postmortem settling of blood and/or other fluids to dependent portions of the body
Injector needle
A preparation aid used in mouth closure. It is inserted into a needle injector and forced into the mandible and maxilla SUPPLY
Instantaneous rigor mortis a.k.a. Cadaveric rigidity
The immediate stiffening of the muscles of a dead human body
Intercellular
Between the cells of a structure
Intracellular
Within a cell or cells
Jaundice a.k.a. Icterus
Conditions characterized by excessive concentrations of bilirubin in the skin and tissues and deposition of excessive bile pigment in the skin, cornea, body fluids, and mucous membranes with the resulting yellow appearance of the patient
Lateral boundary (of the axillary space)
Where the anterior and posterior boundaries blend into the arm
Linear guide
A line drawn or visualized on the surface of the skin to represent the approximate location of some deeper-lying structure
Livor mortis a.k.a Cadaveric lividity a.k.a. Postmortem lividity
Postmortem, intravascular, red-blue discoloration resulting from Hypostasis of blood, can usually be cleared with arterial injection and drainage
Lumen
The cavity or opening of a vein, artery, or intestine. The further away the smaller the lumen
Mandibular suture
Method of mouth closure in which a suture is passed through the septum of the nose and around the mandible
Medial boundary (of the axillary space)
Where the anterior and posterior boundaries blend into the chest wall
Moist gangrene
Necrotic tissue that is wet as a result of inadequate venous drainage; may be accompanied by bacterial infection
Musculature suture
Method of mouth closure in which a suture is passed through the septum of the nose and through the Mentalis muscle of the chin
Nasal cavity
Space between the roof of the mouth and the floor of the cranial cavity
Needle injector
Preparation room equipment used to impel specially designed metal pins into bone
Neoplasm a.k.a. Tumor
The abnormal, excessive and uncontrolled multiplication of cells with the formation of a mass or new growth of tissue
Non-cosmetic fluid a.k.a. Passive dyes
A type of arterial fluid which contains inactive dyes that will not impart a color change upon the body tissues of the deceased
Oral cavity
The mouth and the vestibule, or opening to the throat
Permissible exposure limit a.k.a. PEL
Maximum legal limits established by OSHA for regulated substances based on employee exposure that are time-weighted over and 8 hour shift PEL of formaldehyde is .75ppm
Pitting edema
Condition in which interstitial spaces contain such excessive amounts of fluid that the skin remains depressed after palpation
Posterior boundary (of the axillary space)
The lateral border of the latissimus dorsi muscle
Postmortem stain a.k.a. Laking
Extravascular color change that occurs when heme, released by the hemolysis of red blood cells, seeps through the vessel walls and into the body tissues
Preinjection fluid
Fluid injected primarily to prepare the vascular system and body tissues for the injection of the preservative vascular (arterial) solution. This solution is injected before the preservative vascular solution is injected
Retina
Inner lining of the eye that receives the images formed by the lens and transmits those images to the brain through the optic nerve
Rigor mortis a.k.a. Cadaveric rigidity
Postmortem stiffening of the body muscles by natural body processes
Short term exposure limit a.k.a. STEL
Legal limits established by OSHA to which workers can be exposed continuously for a short period of time without damage or injury exposures at the STEL should not be for more than 15 minutes and not repeated more than 4 times per work day
Solid edema
Drug induced edema wherein the excess fluid is located within the cell. Upon palpation, there is no noticible depression.
Subcutaneous emphysema
Distension of the tissues beneath the skin by gas or air; an antemortem condition brought about by a surgical procedure or trauma
Time weighted average a.k.a. TWA
An evolution of exposures that are time weighted over an established period. It allows the exposure levels to be averaged generally over an eight hour time period
Tissue gas
Postmortem accumulation of gas in tissues or cavities brought about by an anaerobic gas forming bacillus. Clostridium perfringens
Water conditioner
An agent used to remove chemical constituents from municipal water supplies that could interfere with drainage and preservation
Work practice controls
Controls that reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the manner in which a task is performed; prohibiting recapping of needles, not allowing blood splatter to aerosolize
Action level
Established by OSHA, minimizes the compliance burdens for employees whose employees have exposures below the 8 hour permissible exposure limit. AL for formaldehyde is 0.5ppm
