Must know Vocabulary Flashcards
Antemortem injuries resulting from friction of the skin against a firm object resulting in the removal of the epidermis.
Abrasion
The process of taking in, as in a colored object which takes in certain rays of light and reflects other rays giving the object its recognizable color.
Absorption
Group of chemicals used in addition to vascular (arterial) and cavity embalming fluids; includes but is not limited to hardening compounds, preservative powders, sealing agents, mold preventative agents, and pack application agents.
Accessory Chemical
These levels are established to ensure adequate protection of employees at exposures below the OSHA limits, but to minimize the compliance burdens for employers whose employees have exposures below the 8 hour permissible exposure limit (PEL). The level for formaldehyde is 0.5 ppm.
Action Level (AL-Exposure Limits)
Dyes which aid in restoring a life-like surface pigmentation to a body and also stain the body tissue cells.
Active Dyes (Staining Dyes, Cosmetic Dyes)
A disease with a more or less rapid onset and short duration.
Acute
Soft whitish crumbly or greasy material that forms upon the postmortem hydrolysis and hydrogenation of body fats.
Adipocere (Grave Wax)
Assimilation of gas, vapor, or dissolved matter by the surface of a solid or liquid.
Adsorption
The pressure which is indicated by the injector gauge needle when the arterial tube is open and the arterial solution is flowing into the body.
Actual Pressure
In the presence of free oxygen.
Aerobic
Period immediately before somatic death.
Agonal Period
Method of injection-drainage in which embalming solution is injected and then injection is stopped while drainage is open.
Alternate Drainage
In the absence of free oxygen.
Anaerobic
Severe generalized edema.
Anasarca
A descriptive reference for locating arteries and veins by means of anatomical structures which are known.
Anatomical Guide
Points of origin and points of termination in relation to adjacent structures; used to designate the boundaries of arteries.
Anatomical Limits
The body is erect, feet together, palms facing forward, and thumbs are pointed away from the body.
Anatomical Position
Before death.
Antemortem
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.
Anticoagulant Fluid
A non-toxic disinfectant suitable for the use on animal tissue.
Antiseptic
Death brought about by a cessation of respiration or improper functioning of the respiratory apparatus; one of three modes of death described by Bichat.
Apnea
Condition in which the manifestations of life are feebly maintained.
Apparent Death
A solution in which water is the solvent.
Aqueous Solution
The concentrated, preservative, embalming chemicals 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 (Vascular) Fluid
The mixture of arterial (vascular) fluid and water which is used for the arterial injection and may include supplemental fluids.
Arterial Solution
The term applied to a number of pathological conditions causing a thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries.
Arteriosclerosis
Accumulation of serous fluids in the peritoneal cavity.
Ascites
Insufficient intake of oxygen resulting from numerous causes.
Asphyxia (Apnea)
Indicates a weakness or feebleness of any organ or function.
Asthenia
Fatty degeneration or thickening of the walls of the larger arteries occurring in atherosclerosis.
Atheroma
A form of arteriosclerosis marked by the deposition of lipids in the inner layer of arterial walls.
Atherosclerosis
The presence of bacteria in the blood.
Bacteremia
Resins combined with oil; a fragrant, resinous, oily exudate from various trees and plants.
Balsamic Substance
The arm pit.
Base of the Axillary Space
Established by drawing a line along the fold of skin which envelopes the lateral border of the pectoralis major muscle.
Anterior Boundary
Established by drawing a line along the fold of skin which envelopes the lateral border of the latissimus dorsi muscle.
Posterior Boundary
Established by drawing a line which connects the two points where the pectoralis major and the latissimus dorsi muscles blend into the chest wall.
Medial Boundary
Established by drawing a line which connects the two points where the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles blend into the arm.
Lateral Boundary
A network of stitches which cross the borders of a cavity or excision to anchor fillers and to sustain tissues in their proper position.
Basket Weave Suture (Cross Stitch)
Acute, deep-seated inflammation in the skin which usually beings as a subcutaneous swelling in a hair follicle.
Boil (Furuncle)
Individual stitch knotted at the tissue edge; may be applied prior to embalming to align tissues.
Bridge Suture (Temporary Interrupted Suture)
An injury caused by a blow without laceration.
Bruise (Ecchymosis, Contusion, Suggulation)
Vestibule of the oral cavity; the space between the lips, gums, and teeth.
Buccal Cavity
General deterioration of the body; a state of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting. It may occur in many chronic diseases as certain malignancies and advanced pulmonary tuberculosis.
Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome)
Dead human body used for medical purposes: including transplantation, anatomical dissection and study.
Cadaver
Several communicating boils of the skin and subcutaneous tissues with the production and discharge of pus and dead tissue.
Carbuncle
A disease with a more of less slow onset and long duration.
Chronic
A prolongation of the last violent contraction of the muscles into the rigidity of death.
Cadaveric Spasm (Instantaneous Rigor Mortis)
The dome-like superior portion of the cranium; that portion removed cranial autopsy.
Calvarium
The total sum of those considerations given the case at hand, beginning before the embalming procedure is begun and continuing throughout the operation.
Case Analysis (Embalming Analysis)
A condition in which in which the vital signs of life are feebly maintained and there is a waxy rigidity of the body.
Catalepsy
An embalming instrument which is connected to a bottle of cavity fluid to aid in injecting the cavity fluid into the various cavities of the body.
Cavity Injector
Ascending/and or arch of the aorta.
Center of Fluid Distribution
Right atrium of the heart.
Center of Venous Drainage
Late 17th Century; An influential person in medical embalming who published a book about a method of embalming without evisceration (German).
Clauderus, Gabrial
A phase of somatic death lasting from 5-6 minutes in which life may be restored.
Clinical Death
Anaerobic, saprophytic, spore-forming bacterium responsible for tissue gas. Referred to as a gas bacillus.
Clostridium Perfringens (Clostridium Welchii)
A fluid used primarily to supplement and enhance the action of vascular (arterial) solutions.
Coinjection Fluid
The irreversible cessation of brain activity and loss of consciousness; death beginning at the brain.
Coma
Disinfection practices carried out during the embalming process.
Concurrent Disinfection
Method of drainage in which drainage occurs continuously during vascular (arterial) injection.
Concurrent Drainage
Mucous membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white portion of the eye.
Conjunctiva
Transparent part of the tunic the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light into the interior.
Cornea
That portion of the cornea recovered for transplantation in situ. The cornea and sclera considered together comprising the tunica fibrosa or fibrous coat of the eye.
Corneal Sclera Button
Legal term referring to a dead body.
Corpse
An official of a local community who holds inquests concerning sudden, violent, and unexplained deaths.
Coroner
Having an abnormal amount of fat on the body.
Corpulence (Obesity)
That part of the human skull which encloses the brain.
Cranium
A luminous appearance like a candle flame, superstitiously thought to prestage death.
Death Candle
A kind of ignis fatuus (glow) supposed to forebode death.
Death Fire
Decomposition of proteins by enzymes of aerobic bacteria.
Decay
Separation of compounds into simpler substances by the action of microbial and/or autolytic enzymes.
Decomposition
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 formally known as reodorants.
Deodorants (Masking Agents, Perfuming Agents)
The corium, or true skin.
Derma (Dermis, Skin)
