Embalming (National Board Exam Study Guide)
With Complete Solutions
Abdominal Anatomical Region - ANSWER-(1) nine region plan: by means of four
imaginary planes, two of which are horizontal (indicated by lines drawn across the right
and left 10" ribs and across the right and left anterior superior iliac spines) and two
sagittal (indicated by lines drawn from mid point of inguinal ligaments to nipples of
chest, right and left sides). Upper row - right hypochondriac, epigastric, left
hypochondriac. Middle row - right lumbar, umbilical, left lumbar. Lower row - right
inguinal (iliac), hypogastric, left inguinal (iliac). (2) four region plan: by means of two
imaginary planes, one horizontal and the other mid-sagittal. Upper right quadrant, upper
left quadrant, lower right quadrant, lower left quadrant.
abrasion - ANSWER-antemortem injuries resulting from friction of the skin against a firm
object resulting in the removal of the epidermis
abut - ANSWER-to touch or contact, as with the tarsal plates of the closed eyelids
accessory chemicals - ANSWER-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
acquired immune deficiency syndrome/AIDS - ANSWER-a specific group of diseases or
conditions which are indicative of severe immunosuppression related to infection with
the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); persons dead having had AIDS may exhibit
conditions such as wasting syndrome, extra pulmonary tuberculosis, and Kapok's
sarcoma
action level/AL exposure limits - ANSWER-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 exposure below the 8-
hour permissible exposure limit (PEL). The AL for formaldehyde is 0.5ppm
actual pressure - ANSWER-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
adipocere - ANSWER--grave wax
-a wax-like material produced by saponification of body fat in a body buried in alkaline
soil
aerobic - ANSWER-in the presence of free oxygen
,aerosolization - ANSWER-to disperse as an aerosol; minute particles of blood and
water become atomized and suspended in air when water under pressure meets the
blood drainage or when flushing an undercover flush sink
agglutination - ANSWER--congealing
-intravascular, the increase of viscosity of blood brought about by the clumping of
particulate formed elements in the blood vessels
agonal algor - ANSWER-decrease in body temperature immediately before death
agonal coagulation - ANSWER--congealing
-in reference to blood, a change from a fluid into a thickened mass
agonal dehydration - ANSWER-the loss of moisture from the living body during the
agonal state
agonal edema - ANSWER-escape of blood serum from an intravascular to an
extravascular location immediately before death
agonal fever - ANSWER-increase in body temperature immediately before death
agonal period - ANSWER-the period immediately before somatic death
algor mortis - ANSWER-post mortem cooling of the body to the surrounding
temperature
alternate drainage - ANSWER--restricted drainage
-method of injection-drainage in which embalming solution is injected and then injection
is stopped while drainage is open
american congress of governmental industrial hygienists/ACGIH - ANSWER-an
organization of professional personnel in governmental agencies or educational
institutions who are employed in occupational safety and health programs
amino acid - ANSWER-the building blocks of proteins; and the end products of protein
digestion or hydrolysis, it is a compound containing an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl
(-COOH) group attached to an alpha carbon and a radical
anaerobic - ANSWER-in the the absence of free oxygen
anasara - ANSWER-generalized massive edema is subcutaneous tissue
anatomical guide - ANSWER-a descriptive reference for locating arteries and veins by
means of anatomical structures which are known
anatomical limits - ANSWER-points of origin and points of termination in relation to
adjacent structures; used to designate the boundaries of arteries
, anatomical position - ANSWER-the body is erect, feet together, palms facing forward,
and thumbs pointed away from the body
aneurysm - ANSWER-localized abnormal dilation or out pocketing of a blood vessel
resulting from a congenital defect or a weakness of a vessel wall
aneurysm hook - ANSWER-an embalming instrument used for blunt dissection and in
raising vessels; has an eye in the hook position of the instrument for placing ligatures
around the vessels
aneurysm needle - ANSWER-an embalming instrument that is used for blunt dissection
and in raising vessels, which has an eye in the hook portion of the instrument for placing
ligatures around the vessels
angular spring forceps - ANSWER-a multipurpose instrument used in the embalming
process
anomalies - ANSWER-deviation from the normal
antecubital - ANSWER-in front of the elbow/in the bed of the elbow
antemortem - ANSWER-before death
anterior - ANSWER-toward the front
anterior superior iliac spine - ANSWER-a bony protuberance, that can be palpated
topographically, found on the ilium, the superior, broad portion of the hipbone; the origin
of the inguinal ligament and the sartorius muscle
anticoagulant fluid - ANSWER-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
apparent death - ANSWER-condition in which the manifestations of life are feebly
maintained
arterial (vascular) fluid - ANSWER-the concentrated, preservative, embalming chemical
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 solution - ANSWER-the mixture of arterial (vascular) fluid and water which is
used for the arterial injection and may include supplemental fluids
arterial tube - ANSWER-a tube used to inject embalming fluid into the blood vascular
system
With Complete Solutions
Abdominal Anatomical Region - ANSWER-(1) nine region plan: by means of four
imaginary planes, two of which are horizontal (indicated by lines drawn across the right
and left 10" ribs and across the right and left anterior superior iliac spines) and two
sagittal (indicated by lines drawn from mid point of inguinal ligaments to nipples of
chest, right and left sides). Upper row - right hypochondriac, epigastric, left
hypochondriac. Middle row - right lumbar, umbilical, left lumbar. Lower row - right
inguinal (iliac), hypogastric, left inguinal (iliac). (2) four region plan: by means of two
imaginary planes, one horizontal and the other mid-sagittal. Upper right quadrant, upper
left quadrant, lower right quadrant, lower left quadrant.
abrasion - ANSWER-antemortem injuries resulting from friction of the skin against a firm
object resulting in the removal of the epidermis
abut - ANSWER-to touch or contact, as with the tarsal plates of the closed eyelids
accessory chemicals - ANSWER-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
acquired immune deficiency syndrome/AIDS - ANSWER-a specific group of diseases or
conditions which are indicative of severe immunosuppression related to infection with
the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); persons dead having had AIDS may exhibit
conditions such as wasting syndrome, extra pulmonary tuberculosis, and Kapok's
sarcoma
action level/AL exposure limits - ANSWER-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 exposure below the 8-
hour permissible exposure limit (PEL). The AL for formaldehyde is 0.5ppm
actual pressure - ANSWER-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
adipocere - ANSWER--grave wax
-a wax-like material produced by saponification of body fat in a body buried in alkaline
soil
aerobic - ANSWER-in the presence of free oxygen
,aerosolization - ANSWER-to disperse as an aerosol; minute particles of blood and
water become atomized and suspended in air when water under pressure meets the
blood drainage or when flushing an undercover flush sink
agglutination - ANSWER--congealing
-intravascular, the increase of viscosity of blood brought about by the clumping of
particulate formed elements in the blood vessels
agonal algor - ANSWER-decrease in body temperature immediately before death
agonal coagulation - ANSWER--congealing
-in reference to blood, a change from a fluid into a thickened mass
agonal dehydration - ANSWER-the loss of moisture from the living body during the
agonal state
agonal edema - ANSWER-escape of blood serum from an intravascular to an
extravascular location immediately before death
agonal fever - ANSWER-increase in body temperature immediately before death
agonal period - ANSWER-the period immediately before somatic death
algor mortis - ANSWER-post mortem cooling of the body to the surrounding
temperature
alternate drainage - ANSWER--restricted drainage
-method of injection-drainage in which embalming solution is injected and then injection
is stopped while drainage is open
american congress of governmental industrial hygienists/ACGIH - ANSWER-an
organization of professional personnel in governmental agencies or educational
institutions who are employed in occupational safety and health programs
amino acid - ANSWER-the building blocks of proteins; and the end products of protein
digestion or hydrolysis, it is a compound containing an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl
(-COOH) group attached to an alpha carbon and a radical
anaerobic - ANSWER-in the the absence of free oxygen
anasara - ANSWER-generalized massive edema is subcutaneous tissue
anatomical guide - ANSWER-a descriptive reference for locating arteries and veins by
means of anatomical structures which are known
anatomical limits - ANSWER-points of origin and points of termination in relation to
adjacent structures; used to designate the boundaries of arteries
, anatomical position - ANSWER-the body is erect, feet together, palms facing forward,
and thumbs pointed away from the body
aneurysm - ANSWER-localized abnormal dilation or out pocketing of a blood vessel
resulting from a congenital defect or a weakness of a vessel wall
aneurysm hook - ANSWER-an embalming instrument used for blunt dissection and in
raising vessels; has an eye in the hook position of the instrument for placing ligatures
around the vessels
aneurysm needle - ANSWER-an embalming instrument that is used for blunt dissection
and in raising vessels, which has an eye in the hook portion of the instrument for placing
ligatures around the vessels
angular spring forceps - ANSWER-a multipurpose instrument used in the embalming
process
anomalies - ANSWER-deviation from the normal
antecubital - ANSWER-in front of the elbow/in the bed of the elbow
antemortem - ANSWER-before death
anterior - ANSWER-toward the front
anterior superior iliac spine - ANSWER-a bony protuberance, that can be palpated
topographically, found on the ilium, the superior, broad portion of the hipbone; the origin
of the inguinal ligament and the sartorius muscle
anticoagulant fluid - ANSWER-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
apparent death - ANSWER-condition in which the manifestations of life are feebly
maintained
arterial (vascular) fluid - ANSWER-the concentrated, preservative, embalming chemical
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 solution - ANSWER-the mixture of arterial (vascular) fluid and water which is
used for the arterial injection and may include supplemental fluids
arterial tube - ANSWER-a tube used to inject embalming fluid into the blood vascular
system
