Week 3 Postmortem Discolorations

Question 1

any abnormal color in or upon the human body

Answer 1

discoloration

Question 2

discolorations tend to improve after death (T/F)

Answer 2

false (worsen)

Question 3

discolorations can be localized or generalized (T/F)

Answer 3

true

Question 4

skin color in general is determined by ____, ____, and ____, all of which go through changes postmortem

Answer 4

hemoglobin
melanin
carotene

Question 5

the paleness of skin after death

Answer 5

death pallor

Question 6

most deceased bodies have some level of discoloration present (T/F)

Answer 6

true

Question 7

discolorations which appear before death

Answer 7

antemortem

Question 8

discolorations which appear after death

Answer 8

postmortem

Question 9

classification of discolorations by cause (6)

Answer 9

-blood discolorations
-drug and therapeutic discolorations
-pathological discolorations
-surface discoloring agent discolorations
-reactions to embalming chemicals
-decomposition changes

Question 10

blood discolorations within the blood vascular system

Answer 10

intravascular

Question 11

blood discolorations outside the blood vascular system

Answer 11

extravascular

Question 12

condition resulting from changes in blood
composition, content, or location, either intravascularly or extravascularly

Answer 12

blood discoloration

Question 13

____ blood discolorations become ____ after time delays

Answer 13

intravascular
extravascular

Question 14

hypostasis of blood causes a ____

Answer 14

blue–black discoloration

Question 15

carbon monoxide poisoning causes a ____

Answer 15

cherry red discoloration

Question 16

capillary congestion causes a ____

Answer 16

reddish discoloration

Question 17

bruising discoloration of the skin caused by the escape of blood into the extravascular tissues

Answer 17

ecchymosis

Question 18

antemortem, pinpoint, extravascular blood discoloration visible as purplish hemorrhages on the skin

Answer 18

petechia

Question 19

medium sized hemorrhage marks under the skin

Answer 19

purpura

Question 20

tumor–like swelling of blood

Answer 20

hematoma

Question 21

intravascular discoloration caused by the gravitation of blood into the dependent capillaries

Answer 21

livor mortis

Question 22

extravascular discoloration that occurs when heme seeps through the vessel walls and into the body tissues

Answer 22

postmortem stain

Question 23

postmortem extravascular blood discoloration caused by the rupture of minute vessels as blood settles into the dependent areas of the body

Answer 23

Tardieu stains

Question 24

____ tend to respond well to pre–injection fluids, continuous & concurrent drainage, and mild, hypotonic solutions

Answer 24

intravascular discolorations

Question 25

____ can be lightened by strong arterial injection but often also require hypodermic and/or surface embalming

Answer 25

extravascular discolorations

Question 26

you may inject tissues around the eyes with ____ before arterial injection to treat periorbital ecchymosis

Answer 26

a phenol cautery chemical

Question 27

antemortem discoloration as a result of pharmaceutical agents or chemotherapeutic agents

Answer 27

pharmaceutical discoloration

Question 28

____ is a common pharmaceutical-related discoloration

Answer 28

jaundice

Question 29

____ discoloration causes include gangrene, jaundice, leukemia, and meningitis

Answer 29

pathological

Question 30

bright red to black necrotic tissue resulting from inadequate venous drainage accompanied by the invasion of saprophytic bacteria

Answer 30

moist (wet) gangrene

Question 31

dull red to black necrosis resulting from localized deprivation of arterial blood supply

Answer 31

dry gangrene (ischemic necrosis)

Question 32

condition characterized by excessive concentrations of bilirubin in the skin and tissues, cornea, body fluids, and mucous membranes with a resulting yellow appearance

Answer 32

jaundice

Question 33

during embalming, yellow discoloration from jaundice may shift to ____

Answer 33

an intense green color

Question 34

preservation always takes precedence over clearing discoloration (T/F)

Answer 34

true

Question 35

discoloration due to ____ can be treated with pre-injection to clear the vascular system, relieving ascites prior to arterial injection, restricted cervical injection, higher index fluid, active dyes to counterstain, and/or specialty fluids (especially the face)

Answer 35

jaundice

Question 36

alternatives to treat jaundice discoloration (4)

Answer 36

-mild arterial solution with dye -non–formaldehyde fluid -bleaching co–injection solutions -cavity fluid

Question 37

all embalming machines are compatible with phenol (T/F)

Answer 37

false (many are not)

Question 38

adrenal gland disorder resulting in a bronze discoloration or white patches on the skin in life and potential darkening of the skin or white patches on the skin after death

Answer 38

Addison's disease

Question 39

cancer of the blood which can cause skin hemorrhages

Answer 39

leukemia

Question 40

contagious bacterial or viral infection causing inflammation of the meninges which can cause red to purple petechial hemorrhaging or purpura

Answer 40

meningitis

Question 41

areas with unregulated cell growth (tumors) can cause local, varied discolorations (T/F)

Answer 41

true

Question 42

autoimmune disorder which can cause a "butterfly rash” on the nose and cheeks

Answer 42

lupus erythematosus

Question 43

all discolorations need to be cleared (T/F)

Answer 43

false (not all, discuss with family)

Question 44

antemortem or postmortem discoloration due to the deposit of matter on the skin surface

Answer 44

surface discoloration

Question 45

most surface discolorations can be easily removed with soap and water (T/F)

Answer 45

true

Question 46

surface discolorations should be removed by mechanical or chemical methods after arterial embalming (T/F)

Answer 46

false (before arterial embalming)

Question 47

____ discolorations may be yellow, green, blue-black, or black

Answer 47

decomposition-related

Question 48

one of the first signs of decomp is usually a green discoloration in the ____

Answer 48

right inguinal region of the abdomen

Question 49

____ presents as marbling with discolorations from red to black

Answer 49

decomposition/breakdown of the vascular system

Question 50

decomposition discolorations can occur from activity of ____

Answer 50

bacterial and autolytic enzymes

Question 51

most decomposition discolorations do not worsen with time (T/F)

Answer 51

false (most are progressive and worsen as decomposition continues)

Question 52

treatment of decomposition discolorations can include (3)

Answer 52

-external chemical compresses -hypodermic injection -high index cavity fluid

Question 53

dehydration spots are usually soft and smooth (T/F)

Answer 53

false (usually hard and rough)

Question 54

yellow, brown, or black discolorations which may be caused internally or externally

Answer 54

dehydration marks

Question 55

dehydration marks cannot be bleached and will get progressively darker, but these things can help (5)

Answer 55

-massage cream -cosmetics -tissue builder -humectants -intermittent drainage

Question 56

because ____ plays a role in the chemical reaction which turns jaundice from yellow to green, coating the tissues with massage cream can help to an extent

Answer 56

oxygen

Question 57

____ is the result of inadequate drainage

Answer 57

embalmer's gray (formaldehyde gray)

Question 58

blueish discoloration resulting from improper drainage, usually in just one area of the body

Answer 58

flushing

Question 59

you should wait to shave until after embalming whenever possible to prevent razor burn (T/F)

Answer 59

false (shave before embalming if possible)

Question 60

____ is rare but can occur if sufficient pressure to the capillaries occurs

Answer 60

postmortem bruising

Question 61

treat postmortem bruising with (3)

Answer 61

-restricted cervical injection -relatively high index and low pressure injection -surface compress treated with chemical

Question 62

rash–like discoloration occurring when a large volume of formaldehyde leaks out of the capillaries and circulates through the skin

Answer 62

formaldehyde burn

Question 63

____ is usually the best treatment option for formaldehyde burn

Answer 63

cosmetic

Question 64

abnormal change involving any tissue or organ due to disease or injury

Answer 64

lesion

Question 65

subcategories of skin lesion (4)

Answer 65

unbroken skin scaling skin broken skin pustular / ulcerative lesions

Question 66

allergic reactions, inflammation, trauma, and tumors are examples of ____

Answer 66

unbroken skin lesions

Question 67

unbroken skin lesions can be treated with (3)

Answer 67

strong arterial solution surface compress phenol injection

Question 68

remove as much loose skin as possible in the case of scaling skin lesions (T/F)

Answer 68

true

Question 69

subcategories of broken skin lesions (3)

Answer 69

abrasions blisters skin slip (desquamation)

Question 70

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

Answer 70

abrasion

Question 71

elevation of the epidermis containing watery liquid

Answer 71

blister

Question 72

you should not pop blisters on the skin (T/F)

Answer 72

false (drain, cauterize, remove any loose skin, dry lesion)

Question 73

separation of the epidermis from the underlying dermis as a result of putrefaction

Answer 73

skin slip (desqamation)

Question 74

treatment after removing loose skin of desquamation

Answer 74

apply surface compress with cavity fluid or phenol