Vocabulary M-Z Flashcards
Maggot
Insect larva; especially flies
Masking Agent (Perfuming Agent)
Chemical found in arterial fluid having the capability of displacing an unpleasant odor or of altering an unpleasant odor so that it is converts to a more pleasant one
Medical Examiner
Elected or appointed official of a local community, with a medical degree who holds inquests concerning sudden, violent, and unexplained deaths
Medial
Anatomical term of position and direction denoting toward the midline
Microorganism
A microscopic organism, especially a bacterium, virus, or fungus
Microbial Enzyme
The enzymes of microorganisms; a source of the enzymes that contribute to decomposition
Modifying Agent
Chemical within the arterial fluid to deal with varying demands predicated upon the condition of the deceased, the environment, and the preservative to be used.
Ex: anticoagulants, buffers, humectants, and surfactants
Moist Gangrene
Necrotic tissue resulting from inadequate venous drainage accompanied by the invasion of saprophytic bacteria
Mold Preventative
Agent which prohibit the growth of mold
Mortuary Putty
Pliable compound to fix or fill
Mouth Former
Feature-setting device placed in the mouth to provide shaped and contour to the lips
Multi-point Injection
Vascular injection from two or more sites
Nasal Tube Aspirator
Instrument used to aspirate the throat by means of the nostrils
Necrobiosis
Antemortem, physiological death of the cells of the body followed by their replacement
Necrosis
Pathological death of a tissue still a part of the living organism
Needle Injector
Feature-setting device used for mouth closure designed to implant metal pins into bone
Nephritis
Inflammation of the kidneys that can cause an increase in nitrogenous waste
Nitrogenous Waste
Metabolic by-products such as urea and uric acid that contain nitrogen, and tend to neutralize formaldehyde
Non-cosmetic Fluid
Arterial fluid which does not contain active dyes and will not impart a color change upon the body tissues
Occupational Exposure
Reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral, contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of a worker’s duties
One-Point Injectection
Injection and drainage from one location
Osmosis
Passage of pure solvent from a solution of lesser concentration to one of greater solute concentration when the two solutions are separated by a semipermeable membrane, primary mechanism by which preservation occurs
Packing Forceps
Embalming instrument used to fill the external orifices of the body with an absorbant material
Palpate
To examine by touch
Parenteral
Introduced into body by piercing mucous membranes or the skin barrier through such events as needlesticks, human bites, cuts, and abrasions
Petechia
Antemortem, pinpoint, extravascular blood discoloration visible as purplish hemorrhages on the skin
Pharmaceutical Agent
Drug or medicine that changes the biochemistry of the blood
Pitting Edema
Condition in which interstitial spaces contain such excessive amounts of fluid that the skin remains depressed after palpation
Plastic Garments
used to contain leakage and mange odors; different types include pants, coveralls, stockings, sleeves, capri pants, and unionalls
Positioning Device
Equipment used to position the body throughout decedent care
Posterior
Anatomical term of position and direction denoting toward the back
Postmortem
Period that begins after somatic death
Postmortem Caloricity
Rise in body temperature after death due to continued cellular metabolism
Putrefaction
Decomposition of proteins by the action of enzymes from anaerobic bacteria
Restoration
Treatment of the deceased in the attempt to recreate natural form and color
Universal Precautions
An approach to infection control in which all human blood and certain human body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious
Purge
Postmortem evacuation of any substance from an external orifice of the body as a result of pressure
Postmortem Physical Changes and Examples
- Natural forces of nature cause changes in the physical state of the body or body tissues
- Natural physical changes do not change the chemical composition of the body
Ex. algor mortis, dehydration, hypostasis, increase in blood viscosity
Postmortem Chemical Changes and Examples
- Changes generated by chemical activities that result in the formation of new chemical substances.
- Postmortem processes are largely dependent on autolytic enzymes that stimulate chemical reactions in tissues
Ex. Postmortem caloricity, change in body pH, rigor mortis, postmortem stain, decomposition
Postmortem Stain
Extravascular discoloration that occurs when heme seeps through the vessel walls and into the body tissues
Potential Pressure
Pressure indicated by the injector gauge needle when the embalming machine is running and the rate of flow is closed
Preparation Room
Area or facility wherein embalming, dressing, cosmetizing, or general decedent care is performed
Preservative
A chemical that inactivates saprophytic bacteria and attempts to arrest decomposition by converting body tissue to a form less susceptible to decomposition
Preservative Powder
Chemical in powder form typically used for surface embalming of the remains
Pressure Filtration
Passive transport system enabling the passage of arterial solution from the capillary to the tissue fluid
Primary Dilution
Strength of the arterial solution mixed in the embalming machine
Primary Disinfection
Disinfection carried out prior to the embalming process
Procurement
The recovery of organs or tissues from a cadaver for transplantation
Protein
Biochemical compound that is a polymer of many amino acids
Proteolysis
Decomposition of proteins
Ptomaine
Any one of a group of nitrogenous organic compounds formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria on proteins
Pubic Symphysis
Fibrocartilage that joins the two pubic bones in the median plane
Pus
Liquid product of inflammation
Rate of Flow
Speed at which solution is injected; measured by ounces per minute
Razor Burn
A darkened, air-dried area on the skin resulting from removal of the epidermis while shaving
Reaspiration
Repeated aspiration of a cavity
Restricted Cervical Injection
Method of injection wherein both carotid arteries are initially raised to control entry of the arterial solution into the head
Rigor Mortis
Postmortem stiffening of the body muscles by natural body processes
Saccharolysis
Decomposition of sugars
Sanitation
Process to promote and establish conditions which minimize or eliminate biohazards
Saponification
Conversion of fatty tissues of the body into a soapy waxy substance called adipocere or grave wax
Saprophytic Bacteria
Bacteria that derive their nutrition from dead organic matter
Scalpel
General embalming instrument used to make incisions and excisions
Sealing Agent
Material used to provide a barrier or seal against leakage of fluid or blood
Secondary Dilution
Weakening of the strength of the arterial solution by vascular and interstitial fluids
Septicemia
Condition characterized by the presence of bacteria in the blood
AKA: Sepsis
Sequestering Agent
Chemical agent that isolated metal ions so they cannot adversely react with blood or water
Sharps Container
OSHA required, puncture resistant, leak proof receptacle for proper disposal of sharp objects
Shell Embalming
Vascular embalming in which only the skin and superficial portions of the body receive arterial solution
Solute
A substance dissolved in a solvent to form a solution; component of a solution present in a lesser amount
Solution
A homogeneous mixture of one or more substances (solutes) dissolved in a sufficient quantity of solvent
Solvent
A substance that does the dissolving in a solution; the component of a solution present in a greater amount
Somatic Death
Death of a organism as a whole
Split Injection
Injection from one site and drainage from a separate site
Sterilization
A process of completely removing or destroying all life forms and/or their products on or in a substance
Stillborn
dead at birth
Subcutaneous
Situated or occurring beneath the skin
Superficial
Anatomical term of position and direction denoting near the surface
Superior
Anatomical term of position and direction denoting towards the head or elevated in place or position
Supplemental Fluid
Fluid injected for purposes other than preservation and disinfection
Surface Compress
A wet or dry cloth applied firmly to a body part
Surface Embalming
Direct contact of body tissues with embalming chemicals
Surface Discoloration
Discoloration due to the deposit of matter on the skin surface
Surface pack
Absorbent material or compress saturated with an embalming chemical and placed in direct contact with the tissue
Surfactant
Chemical that reduces the molecular cohesion and surface tension of a liquid so it can flow through smaller apertures
Tardieu Spots
Postmortem extravascular blood discoloration caused by the rupture of minute vessels as blood settles into the dependent areas of the body
Terminal Disinfection
Disinfection carried out after the embalming process
Tissue Gas
Postmortem formation of gas associated with anaerobic gas forming bacilli, most commonly Clostridium perfringens
Topical Disinfection
Disinfection of the surface of the body or an object
Transverse
Anatomical term of position and direction denoting lying at right angles to the long axis of the body
Trocar
Sharply pointed aspirating instrument used in cavity embalming to remove gases, liquids, and semi-solids from the body cavities and hollow organs and inject cavity fluid
Trocar Button
Plastic, threaded screw-like device for sealing punctures
Trocar Guide
An anatomical structure or a line visualized on the surface of the body used to locate internal structures for cavity embalming
Vacuum Breaker
Apparatus that prevents the back-siphoning of contaminated liquid into potable water supply lines or plumbing cross-connections within the preparation room
Vehicle
Liquid that serves as a solvent for embalming fluids
Viscera
Internal organs enclosed in a cavity
Viscosity
The thickness of a liquid
Water Conditioner
Agent used to remove elements from the water supply
Work Practice Controls
Procedures that reduce the likelihood of exposure to a hazard by altering the manner in which a task is performed
