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