FTCC Embalming II Midterm Study Guide

Purpura

An antemortem, extravascular blood discoloration.

Excision

Area from which tissue has been removed.

Abrasion blisters

Blisters caused by the skin repeatedly rubbing against another object

Stockings

Closed feet, come in pairs, covers from foot to mid-thigh.

Exsanguination

Excessive blood loss to the point of death.

Hypodermic embalming

Injection of embalming chemicals directly into the tissues using a syringe and needle or a trocar

First Degree Burn (Hyperemia)

Injury caused by heat that produces redness of the skin.

Which of the following is categorized as an extravascular irregularly shaped blood discoloration that often appears on the arms and back of the hands?

Senile Purpura

Tissue donation is regulated by:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Melanin

The brown to black-brown pigment in the epidermis and hair.

Gathering forceps

These are locking forceps with sharp, pointed ends ~ useful for holding or clamping tissue, etc.

Instant Tissue Fixation

This embalming method is recommended for extreme cases to minimize tissue swelling and provide maximum preservation.

Clostridium perfringens

This is an anaerobic bacterium which can cause intense gas in the tissues accompanied by a foul odor.

Unionall

This plastic garment is ideal for autopsy cases, as it covers the entire body with the exception of the neck and head.

Manual aids

Those treatments or procedures that are applied using hands.

Inversion (worm) suture

Used to gather in and turn under excess tissues. This stitch is not visible and may be waxed as needed. It is an excellent suture for closing carotid incision or closing the scalp.

Cachexia

Weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness.

pubic symphysis

When suturing an autopsied body, the embalmer should begin suturing at the:

Temporalis

When treating the cranial cavity, this set of muscles can be sutured to keep the calvarium in place

Edema

abnormal collection of fluid in tissue spaces, serous cavities or both

The fluid strength for an autopsy is generally going to be higher. This is due to

all the above

Biliverdin

conversion of bilirubin from yellow pigment to green pigment

Bilirubin

yellow pigment

Desquamation

(skin-slip); Sloughing off of the epidermis, detachment from epidermis and dermis skin layers

Describe preservation demand in autopsied bodies that have undergone mortuary refrigeration.

-stronger arterial fluid -different solutions may be used for different parts of the body

Recall five reasons forensic autopsies are performed.

1. Cause 2. Manner 3. Time. 4 Recovering, ID, and preserve evidence 5. Provide info. to legal authorities

List three challenges common with delay between death and embalming

1. Even distribution 2. Swelling 3. Increased Preservative demand

Hypercalcemia

A condition in which the calcium level in the blood becomes too high.

Anemia

A condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.

Ketosis

A metabolic state characterized by elevated levels of ketone bodies in the blood or urine.

Hematoma

A swelling or mass of clotted blood caused by a ruptured blood vessel and confined to an organ or space.

Surface embalming

Direct contact of body tissues with embalming chemicals.

Continuous (whip) suture

Generally used to close long incisions such as autopsies.

Tissue gas

Postmortem accumulation of gas and tissues or cavities brought about by an anaerobic gas forming backbacillus, Clostridium perfringens.

All of the following corrective treatments can be used for eye distension in cornea donors except:

Tissue Builder

Secondary flaccidity

When within 36 to 72 hours, rigor mortis passes naturally from an unembalmed body.

Internal Compresses sites (5)

neck, cranium, trunk cavity *devoid viscera, under pectoral chest flaps before trunk incision closure; sidewalls

Short term refrigeration is necessary in some cases, and can provide several advantages to the embalmer. Which of the following would be an advantage of short term refrigeration?

slow progression of rigor mortis in the body, maintaining of blood in liquid state, slower rate of decomposition

At birth, the body water present in infants is approximately ____ of total body weight.

75%

Fontanelles

The space where 2 sutures join forms a membrane-covered "soft spot".

For a partial thickness skin harvest, what instrument is used in the harvesting process?

Dermatone

Surface discoloration agents

Discoloration due to the deposit of matter on skin surface. Examples are adhesive tape, ink, iodine, paint, and tobacco stain

Ecchymosis (bruise)

Discoloration of the skin caused by the escape of blood within the tissues; accompanied by swelling

Hyperglycemia

Excess levels of sugar in the blood.

Coveralls

Plastic garment designed to cover the body from the chest down to the upper thigh.

Unionall

Plastic garment designed to cover the entire body from the neck down to and including the feet.

Corticosteriods

drugs that can causes cells to retain moisture

I have finished embalming a decedent that has an exposed stoma due to a colostomy. Which suture method would be effective in closing the exposed area of the stoma?

Purse String Suture

The classic colors of discoloration associated with dehydration in the tissue of the body include:

black, brown, yellow

Preservative gels (4)

calvarium, anterior chest, abdominal skin flaps before suture, skin surface

Abnormal amounts of fluid (edema) 3 body sites

1. Intracellular 2. Intercellular 3. Within body spaces

State the benefits of plastic garments and body coverings for shipment of a deceased to another funeral establishment.

Body coverings prevent punctures, bruising and possible cosmetic damage.

Anasarca

Edema that is generalized throughout the body

Name two sutures commonly used for closure of the scalp after cranial autopsy.

Inversion (worm) suture & baseball suture

Carotene

Yellow pigmentation of the skin

The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act is

a federal act enforceable in every state

Hypodermic Injection sites (5)

neck, mouth, scalp, arms, and legs

Which of the following is not a commonly transplanted organ?

stomach

Livor Mortis

postmortem intravascular blood discoloration

Name two types of supplemental embalming techniques.

preinjection (used to flush the vascular system) & coinjection (enhances the action of the preservatives

Embalmers should be able to relate the cause of edema with the following conditions (17)

1. Alcoholism 2. Burns 3. Cirrhosis of the liver 4. Carbon monoxide poisoning 5. Congestive heart failure 6. Allergic reactions 7. Inflammatory reaction 8. Extended drug therapy 9. Renal Failure 10. Trauma 11. Lymphatic obstruction 12. Steroid Therapy 13. Venous Obstruction 14. Phlebitis 15. Malnutrition 16. Hepatic failure and/or obstruction 17. Surgical and transplant procedures

Single intradermal (hidden) suture

Also known as the subcutaneous suture, it is made with one needle and a single thread. It is referred to as the hidden stitch because it is used on exposed areas of the body (face) and is directed through the subcutaneous tissues only.

Petechia

Antemortem, pinpoint, extravascular blood discoloration visible as purplish hemorrhages of the skin.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Cause of death would cause a cherry-red discoloration, bright red color to blood, intense livor mortis, rapid post mortem staining, and petechiae

Explain how strength and volume of embalming solution differs in children compared to adults.

Children require smaller volume of fluid and a medium index fluid range 18-25 index, due to delicate skin

Jaundice

Conditions characterized by an excessive concentration of bilirubin in the skin

Crepitation

Crackling sensation produced when gases are trapped in tissues are palpated as in subcutaneous emphysema or tissue gas.

Postmortem stain

Extravascular color change that occurs when heme, released by hemolysis ofred blood cells, seeps through the vessel walls and into the body tissues.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation

Extreme microvascular and macrovascular clotting resulting in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

Due to their small size, all infants must be embalmed using mild solutions and low-index arterial solutions.

False

Embalmer's gray

Gray discoloration caused by Formaldehyde mixed with blood.

Terminal disinfection

Institution of disinfection and decontamination measures after preparation of the remains.

Operative aids

Invasive treatments or procedures to correct a problem area. Examples include channeling, incisions, and excisions.

Primary flaccidity

Muscles being relaxed as death occurs.

Which of the following medical devices must be removed prior to cremation?

Pacemaker

Death pallor

Paleness of the skin

Stages of Rigor Mortis

Primary Flaccidity, Active Rigor, Secondary Flaccidity

Glycosuria

Sugar in urine.

Mechanical aids

The application of treatments or procedures that utilize machines or instruments.

Vascular composite allograft (6)

The transplantation of multiple structures that can include skin, bone, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, & connective tissue

Reasons for a medicolegal autopsy include all of the following:

determination of cause, manner and time of death

The principal manifestations of diabetes include all of the following except:

emaciation

Drainage in a full autopsy case should be taken where?

the cavity

Skin lesion

Any change in structure produced during a disease or injury.

When embalming a decedent who has undergone a cranial autopsy, the embalmer must clamp vessels inside the cranium to ensure distribution to the face. These vessels make up which of the following?

Circle of Willis

Which document must accompany all bodies being prepared and shipped to another funeral facility?

Embalming/Decedent Care Report

Y-incision

Incision used in complete autopsy. Y-shaped incision made from chest to abdomen;

Time delays between death and preparation can present several problems to the embalmer. Which of the following would NOT be considered one of the problems associated with delayed embalming?

Lowered Blood Viscosity

Describe the best practices for embalming a long bone donor. (3)

Method 1: Remove sutures and use cervical and femoral arteries to embalm. Method 2: Free flow method: When long bones have been removed this method leaves the procurement sutures in place. Method 3: Saturated Packing.

Tardieu spots

Minute petechial hemorrhages caused by the rupture of minute vessels as blood settles into the dependent areas of organs and tissues. Most common in asphyxial or slow deaths.

Explain why the careful handling of hands with Senile Purpura is important.

More prone to tearing and bruising; need higher arterial fluid index

Cellular (solid) Edema

Normally caused by cortisteroids and/or allergic reactions and can only be relieved by an excision of the deep tissues after arterial treatment and is no recommended; no fingerprint indentation; solid edema of facial tissues is uncommon

Dry Gangrene

Pathological condition will cause a dull reddish to black discoloration

Double intradermal suture

Suture made with two needles threaded with opposite ends of the same thread. Because it is permanently fixed at each end, it has a greater holding ability.

Rigor Mortis

The postmortem stiffening of muscles by natural processes.

Custodial care

The process of continued monitoring of the body while in custody of the funeral home.

Interlocking (lock) suture

This suture creates a tight, leak proof closure. Its disadvantage is that a ridge appears on the surface of the incision.

Second Degree Burn

This type of burn can be classified as deep, affecting the posterior dermal layer of the skin and may cause blisters to develop.

Posthepatic

This type of jaundice causes obstruction of biliary drainage; bilirubin is not excreted by the kidneys resulting in hyperbilirubinemia.

Super adhesive glues and bonding agents can be used for some closures instead of traditional sutures.

True