Vocabulary for Exam 2 Flashcards by Heather Clark

A specific group of diseases or conditions which are indicative of severe immunosuppression related to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (MV); persons having had this may exhibit conditions such as wasting syndrome, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and Kaposi’s sarcoma.

A.I.D.S. (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

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Disease resulting from a deficiency in the secretion of adrenocortical hormones, with a “bronze” discoloration of the skin and electrolyte imbalances.

Addison’s Disease

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A decrease in the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin or both.

Anemia

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The formation of cavities in an organ or tissue; frequently seen in some forms of tuberculosis.

Cavitation

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Restorative treatment usually accompanied by aspiration, gravitation, or external pressure to remove gases or excess liquids from tissues; passages are made through the tissues with a scalpel, hypodermic needle, or trocar.

Channeling

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Anaerobic, saprophytic, spore-forming bacterium responsible for tissue gas. Referred to as a gas bacillus.

Clostridium perfringens (Clostridium welchii)

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Microorganisms (colon bacillus) found normally in the colon.

Coliform Organisms

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Bacterial inhabitants of the colon.

Coli-flora

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A condition of skin puckering caused by the contraction of the erector pili.

Cutis Anserina

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An acute infectious disease characterized by the formation of a false membrane on any mucous surface.

Diptheria

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Antemortem discolorations resulting from the administration of drugs or chemotherapeutic agents.

Drug Discoloration

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A severe skin irritation due to prolonged exposure to formaldehyde or other embalming chemicals.

Embalmer’s Eczema

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Disease characterized by rash, for example, measles.

Exanthematous Disease

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Loss of blood to the point where life can no longer be sustained.

Exsanguination

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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.

Jaundice (Icterus)

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A fine growth of downy hair which is sometimes found on the face of a baby.

Lanugo

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A chronic or acute disease of unregulated clonal proliferation of the stem cells of the blood forming tissues; resident cells eventually replaced by tumor cells.

Leukemia

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Increase in the number of leukocytes (above 10,000 per cumm) in the blood, generally caused by infection and usually transient).

Leukocytosis

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Tuberculosis of the skin; patches ulcerate and leave scars on healing.

Lupus Vulgaris

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Inflammation of the meninges.

Meningitis

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Inflammation of the kidneys.

Nephritis

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To examine by touch.

Palpate

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Piercing mucous membranes or the skin barrier through such events as needlesticks, human bites, cuts and abrasions.

Parenteral

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Antemortem discoloration that occurs during the course of certain diseases; gangrene and jaundice.

Pathological Discolorations

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To force a fluid through (an organ or tissue), especially by way of the blood vessels; injection during vascular (arterial) embalming.

Perfusion

Inflammation of the peritoneum, the membranous coat lining the abdominal cavity and investing the viscera.

Peritonitis

Acute infection or inflammation of the alveoli. The alveolar sacs fill up with fluid and dead white blood cells. Causes include: bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Pneumonia

Tending the ward of disease, preventative.

Prophylactic

Postmortem evacuation of any substance from an external orifice of the body as a result of pressure.

Purge

Pathologic state, resulting from the presence of microorganisms or their products in the blood or other tissues.

Sepsis

Condition characterized by the multiplication of bacteria in blood.

Septicemia

A discoloration due to the deposit of matter on the skin surface. These discolorations may occur antemortem, during, or after embalming of the body; adhesive tape, ink, iodine, paint, tobacco stains.

Surface Discoloration

The direct contact of body tissues with embalming chemicals.

Surface Embalming

Dehydration of the dead human body due to the movement of air over the body itself.

Surface Evaporation (Air Swipe)

Drawing together, or a contraction, of gels which results in the giving off of water.

Syneresis

The property of certain cells of becoming fluid when shaken, and then becoming solid again.

Thixotropy

The yellowing/browning of the finger nails and fingers from excessive use of cigarettes; a surface discoloration.

Tobacco Tars

An agonal or postmortem redistribution of host microflora on a hostwide basis.

Translocation

The grafting of living tissue from its normal position to another site, or of an organ or tissue from one person to another.

Transplantation

The minute blood vessels that feed large vessels. Can be seen in arteries often (especially in arteries that have arteriosclerosis).

Vasa Vasorum

Discoloration of the body within the blood vascular system, for example: hypostasis, carbon monoxide, and capillary congestion.

Intravascular Blood Discoloration

Discoloration of the body outside the blood vascular system, for example: ecchymosis, petechia, hematoma, and postmortem stain.

Extravascular Blood Discoloration

Relaxation phase of the heart action, or beat.

Diastole

Contraction phase of the heart action, or beat.

Systole

Antemortem injuries resulting from friction of the skin against a firm object resulting in the removal of the epidermis.

Abrasion

Acute, deep-seated inflammation of the skin which usually begins as a subcutaneous swelling of a hair follicle.

Boil (Furuncle)

Circumscribed inflammation of the skin and deeper tissues that ends in suppuration and is accompanied by systemic symptoms, such as fever and leukocytosis; several communicating boils of the skin and subcutaneous tissues with the production and discharge of pus and dead tissue.

Carbuncle

A thin vesicle on the skin containing liquid matter.

Blister

Liquid product of inflammation containing various proteins and leukocytes.

Pus

Characteristic pus-filled structure of a disease, such as smallpox, syphilis, and acne.

Pustular Lesion

Small elevation of the skin with an inflamed base, containing pus.

Pustule

Blister-like elevation of the skin containing serous fluid.

Vesicle

An open sore or lesion of skin or mucous membrane accompanied by sloughing of inflamed necrotic tissue.

Ulcer

A localized accumulation of pus.

Abscess

A sac within or on the body surface containing air or fluid.

Cyst

Any change in structure produced during the course of a disease or injury.

Lesion

Wound characterized by irregular tearing of tissue.

Laceration

Lesions of the mucous membrane of the lip or mouth usually caused by Herpes simplex type 1.

Fever Blisters

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.

Alternate Drainage

Method of drainage in which drainage occurs continuously during vascular (arterial) embalming.

Concurrent Drainage

Method of drainage in which the drainage is stopped at intervals while the injection continues- a type of restricted drainage.

Intermittent Drainage

In the presence of free oxygen.

Aerobic

in the absence of free oxygen.

Anaerobic

A microorganism that prefers an oxygen environment, but is capable of living and growing in its absence.

Facultative Anaerobe

An organism that prefers an environment devoid of oxygen, but has adapted so that it can live and grow in the presence of oxygen.

Facultative Aerobe

A microbe that can only live in the presence of free oxygen.

Strict (Obligate) Aerobe

A microbe that can only survive in the absence of free oxygen.

Strict (Obligate) Anaerobe

Decomposition of proteins by enzymes of aerobic bacteria.

Decay

Decomposition of proteins by the action of enzymes from anaerobic bacteria.

Putrefaction

Unchecked putrefaction eventually results in a complete breakdown and disappearance of all body structures, except the bones.

Disintegration

A general term in which coagulation and agglutination originate.

Congealing

A blood clot which contains all of the blood elements with red and white blood cells separated into distinct layers.

Chicken Fat Clots

A blood clot which contains all of the blood elements coagulated in an evenly mixed mass.

Current Clots (Jelly Clots)

An injury caused by a blow without laceration.

Bruise (Contusion, Ecchymosis, Suggillation)

An antemortem, extravascular blood discoloration. Caused by blood cells leaking into the skin or mucous membranes. Frequently seen with persons using blood thinners. These lesions are larger than pin-point petechia. Large lesions of these are called ecchymosis.

PuraPura

Antemortem, pinpoint, extravascular blood discoloration visible as purplish hemorrhages of skin.

Petechia

Minute petechial hemorrhages caused by the rupture of minute vessels as blood settles into the dependent areas of organs and tissues; it is accompanied by livor mortis. A postmortem, extravascular blood discoloration. Most common in asphyxial or slow deaths.

Tardieu Spots

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.

Agglutination

The process of converting soluble protein to insoluble protein by heating or contact with a chemical such as an alcohol or an aldehyde. The solidification of a solid into a gelatinous mass.

Coagulation

Effected through unbroken skin.

Percutaneous

A hole or wound resulting from piercing.

Puncture

The deep layer of skin under the epidermis.

Derma (Dermis, Skin, Corium, True Skin)

The outermost layer of skin.

Epidermis (Cuticle, Scarf Skin)

Situated of occurring beneath the skin.

Subcutaneous

In its broadest sense, refers to the moistening, or softening, of any tissue decomposing in a liquid medium.

Maceration

Sloughing off of the epidermis, wherein there isa separation of the epidermis from the underlying dermis.

Desquamation (Skin Slip)

Moist, sticky substance that binds the epidermis to the dermis.

Rete-Mucus

A phase of somatic death lasting from 5-6 minutes during which life may be restored.

Clinical Death

The irreversible cessation of brain activity and loss of consciousness; death beginning at the brain.

Coma

Irreversible somatic death, where life cannot be restored.

Biological Death

Death of the organism as a whole.

Somatic Death (Functional Death)

Insufficient intake of oxygen resulting from numerous causes.

Asphyxia (Apnea)

Reduction in arterial blood supply.

Ischemia

Death brought about by a cessation of cardiac activity, or a failure of heart action, one of three modes of death as described by Bichat.

Syncope

Indicates a weakness or feebleness of any organ or function.

Asthenia

Condition in which interstitial spaces contain such excessive amounts of fluid that the skin remains depressed after palpation.

Pitting Edema

Drug-induced edema wherein the excess fluid is located within the cell. Upon palpation, there is no noticeable depression.

Solid Edema

The supervisor in an institution licensed to use radionuclides, that has the responsibility to establish procedures and make recommendations in the use of all radioactive matter.

Radiation Protection Officer

A chemical element that is similar in chemical properties to another element, but differs in atomic weight and electric charge and emits radiation.

Radioactive Isotope

A chemical element that is similar in chemical properties to another element, but differs in atomic weight and electric charge and emits an atom that disintegrates by emission of electromagnetic radiation.

Radionuclide

The most dangerous kind of radiation. Requires lead plates for protection.

Gamma Rays

Radiation that carries enough energy to free electrons from atoms or molecules, thereby ionizing them

Ionizing

The middle most dangerous type of radiation.

Beta-rays

Refers to any type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy per quantum (photon energy) to ionize atoms or molecules

Non-Ionizing

That amount of radioactive material in which 37 million disintegrate each second.

Millicure

Blood present in the vomitus, vomiting of blood from the stomach.

Hematemesis

A swelling or mass of clotted blood confined to an organ or space caused by a ruptured blood vessel.

Hematoma

Discharge of red blood cells in the urine.

Hematuria

Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans; these pathogens include, but are not limited to: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Bloodborne Pathogens

Blood in sputum.

Hemoptysis

A clean cut made with a sharp instrument; in embalming, a cut made with a scalpel to raise arteries and veins.

Incision

To remove as by cutting out; the area from which something has been cut out.

Excision

Drawn or pulled out.

Extraction