Embalming Chemistry (Ch. 14)

Used in addition to emb. fluids or in place of another fluid

Accessory Fluids

Eosine and erythrosine

Active dyes:

Methanol, ethanol, isopropanol

Alcohols in cav. fluids include:

dark red dye used as an internal cosmetic.

Amaranth

prevent clotting

Anti-coagulants/water softening agents help ______ which allows for easier embalming.

humectants, buffers, water conditioning agents, and surfactants.

Arterial Modifying Agents include

embalm areas of the body that cannot be arterially injected.

Autopsy Chemicals

1. Borax 2. Sodium Phosphate 3. Citrates (sodium citrate) 4. Salt of EDTA

Buffers:

before

Carbolated vaseline may be applied to the face ____ applying cosmetics to reduce the possibility of mold forming.

vehicles, dilutents, or solvents.

Carriers of the components found in embalming fluids are called

Water Softeners/Anti-coagulants/Water Conditioning Agents

Chemicals added to reduce the hardness of water used to dilute concentrated fluid:

Arterial Modifying Agents

Chemicals for which there are varying demands depending on the type of embalming, environment, and the embalming fluid to be used:

Reodorants, deodorants, perfuming agents, masking agents

Chemicals which destroy or mask odors

Buffers

Chemicals which stabilize the pH of the embalming solutions and the body tissues.

water conditioning agents/anti-coagulants

Citrates and salt of EDTA are ____ as well as buffers.

Enhance the penetrating ability of the embalming fluid

Co-Injection Fluids

Dyes

Coloring agents used in arterial fluids to color the fluid and/or tissues.

1. Ester 2. Methyl salicylate/oil of wintergreen 3. Benzaldehyde/oil of bitter almond 4. Oil of sassafras 5. Oil of cloves

Common deodorants:

1. Sodium Citrate 2. Salt of EDTA 3. Oxalate Salts

Commonly used water conditioners:

enhance the odor of embalming fluid but do NOT eliminate the odor of the formaldehyde.

Deodorants

high

Edematous cases may require a ____ index fluid due to excessive moisture.

Cavity fluids

Embalming chemicals intended to be injected into the body cavities following aspiration:

arterial fluids

Embalming fluids which are injected via the circulatory system are called

Orange dye used to stain the tissues.

Eosine

Red dye used to stain the tissues.

Erythrosine

Hardening compounds or liquid-gel preparations

Examples of autopsy chemicals include:

formic acid

Formaldehyde can be oxidized to form ______ when a pH shift occurs.

cold sterilization of instruments; surface application

Glutaraldehyde is used for ______ and ______.

1. Supplemental germicide 2. Preservative 3. Surface disinfectant

Glutaraldehyde uses:

26-40 index

Hardening

Solid chemicals used to treat the viscera and cavities of an autopsied body

Hardening Compound

1. Paraformaldehyde 2. Aluminum chloride 3. Alum 4. Plaster of Paris 5. Filler (perlite, vermiculite, cellulose)

Hardening Compound Components:

30% to 40%

High index fluids range from ___ to ____ formaldehyde.

an increased capacity for embalmed tissues to retain moisture.

Humectants are chemicals which create

severely emaciated or predisposed to dehydration.

Humectants may be added to a weak arterial solution to embalm a body that is

1. Glycerol (glycerine) 2. Sorbitol 3. The glycols 4. Lanolin

Humectants:

Ponceau red and amaranth

Inactive dyes:

contain low concentrations of formaldehyde, bleaching and reducing agents, and dyes.

Jaundice Fluids

emollient

Lanolin acts as an _____ when injected into the body.

direct contact

Liquid-gel prep. preserve by _____.

fillers

Liquid-gel preparations have components similar to hardening compounds except for ____.

disinfectants

Many preservatives are also

carbolated vaseline and paradichlorobenzene

Mold inhibitors include

15 index and below

Non-hard

the sealed casket

Paradichlorobenzene may be placed in _____ to prevent mold.

1. Sulfonates 2. Sodium laurel sulfate

Penetrating agents include:

red dye used to color the embalming fluid.

Ponceau Red

Surfactants, water conditioning agents, humectants, and possibly low concentrations of preservatives.

Pre-Injection and Co-Injection fluids contain:

Aldehydes, alcohols, and phenolic compounds

Preservatives in cavity fluids are:

Used to flush out circulatory system before normal embalming fluid is injected

Primary Injection/ Pre-Injection

Enhances the natural appearance of the body; mostly humectants

Restorative Fluid

its incompatibility with the other ingredients.

Salt of Ethylenediaminetetrasodiumacetate (EDTA) is generally not used directly in the solutions because of

16-25 index

Semi-hard

a lot

Severe jaundice cases may need ____ of arterial solution due to low preservative concentration.

germicides

Supplemental _____ are added for the purpose of destroying disease-causing microorganisms.

reduce the molecular cohesion of a liquid to allow fluid to flow through smaller apertures.

Surfactants

Surface active agents/wetting agents/surface tension reducers/penetrating agents

Surfactants are also called

shelf-life

Temp. extremes, storage length, amount of methanol, pH, and light exposure affect the _____ of embalming fluids.

two; five

The average shelf-life of embalming fluids is between ____ and ____ years.

water; the alcohols

The most commonly used vehicles in embalming fluids are ____ and _____.

Methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol.

The most frequently used alcohols are:

preservatives

The most important components of arterial fluids are _____.

diffusion

Wetting agents enable ____ across the membrane for better penetration of embalming solutions.

30-40

You should use a _____ index fluid on an edema case.

Quaternary ammonium compounds; glutaraldehyde

____ and _____ are common germicides.

Phenol; phenolic derivatives

____ and _____ are used as preservative agents in cav. fluids.

Phenol; phenolic derivatives

_____ and _____ derivatives are used as preserv. agents in arterial fluids.

Quats

_____ are commonly used in cold sterilization of instruments and cavity chemical formulations.

Primary injection fluids

_____ are designed to prepare the circulatory system to enhance the penetrating ability of the embalming fluid.

Preservatives

_____ are the most important components of cavity fluids.

Length of time

_____ can cause polymerization of formaldehyde.

Light

_____ can cause polymerization of methanal over time.

Paradichlorobenzene

_____ may be a component of embalming powders.