CHAPTER 2 FUNDAMENTALS OF EMBALMING. TERMINOLOGY The American Board of Funeral Service Education...

CHAPTER 2

FUNDAMENTALS OF EMBALMING

TERMINOLOGY

T

he American Board of Funeral Service Education

definition of Embalming is- a process of chemically

treating the dead human body to reduce the

presence and growth of microorganisms, retard

organic decomposition, and restore an acceptable

physical appearance.

TERMINOLOGY

Decay- decomposition of proteins by enzymes of aerobic bacteria. decompose is another word for Decay.

Putrefaction- Decomposition of proteins by the action of enzymes from anaerobic bacteria.

What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria?

TERMINOLOGY

A

erobic means with air.

A

naerobic means without air.

T

herefore, Decay is what happens to the body because of the

air around it, such as a body lying unfound in the mountains

for several days, and Putrefaction is what happens inside

the body where there is no air, like in the case of gangrene.

TERMINOLOGY

D

ecomposition- the break down of compounds into simpler

substances by the action of microbial and/or autolytic

enzymes.

P

reservation- the science of treating the dead human body

chemically so as to temporarily inhibit decomposition.

TERMINOLOGY

Preservative- Chemicals which inactivate saprophytic bacteria, render unsuitable for nutrition the media upon which such bacteria thrive, and which will arrest decomposition by altering enzymes and lysins of the body as well as converting the decomposable tissue to a form less susceptible to decomposition.

TERMINOLOGY

S

hannon’s definition of Preservative- a preservative

will stop bacteria that live off of dead tissue from

thriving and will change the chemical make up of the

proteins that destroy blood cells and tissue in

response to the dead body; therefore slowing down

the decomposition process.

QUESTION?

C

an preservation happen naturally or does man have

to cause preservation to occur?

ANSWER

D

epending on climate, temperature, and the surrounding

environment, preservation can occur naturally. Can you

think of an example? Would a body in The Sahara Desert

preserve itself naturally? What about the Rainforest?

Why or why not?

H

owever, the type of preservation required for recognizable

viewing needs to be accomplished by man.

4 EMBALMING TREATMENT CLASSIFICATIONS

Arterial

Cavity

Surface and Hypodermic

ARTERIAL EMBALMING

C

an be used to prepare general or localized body region

A

limb or an entire body can be arterially embalmed.

I

s used with both autopsied and un-autopsied remains.

ARTERIAL EMBALMING

C

onsists of injecting 3 to 4 gallons of preservative solution

under pressure, into the circulatory through an artery while

concurrently draining blood from a vein.

A

rterial fluid flows through the bodies circulatory system but but

not through the heart.not through the heart.

A

rterial embalming is also referred to as capillary embalming.

ARTERIAL EMBALMING

8

5% of the bodies blood is contained in the capillaries.

The embalming fluid must go through the capillaries

to enter the tissue spaces where it makes contact

with the cells of the tissue and the bodies protein

thus embalming the body.

CAVITY EMBALMING

W

hat is the difference between ARTERIALLY

EMBALMING and CAVITY EMBALMING?

C

an you perform one without doing the other?

W

hich is more effective?

CAVITY EMBALMING

C

avity embalming is performed after arterial

embalming.

I

t is the direct treatment of the bodies cavities.

T

hose cavities include abdominal, thoracic, and pelvic.

CAVITY EMBALMING

T

he process is carried out by aspirating the cavity and then

filling it with concentrated chemicals.

T

he trocar is the instrument used in the cavity embalming

process.

T

he purpose of cavity embalming is to reach the hollow organs

that are not penetrated by the arterial embalming solution.

CAVITY EMBALMING

I

t is important that the organs gases and solids be

released through the cavity embalming process.

A

pproximately 1 to 2 16oz. Bottles of cavity fluid is

used to penetrate the organs and preserve them.

CAVITY EMBALMING

C

avity Embalming may be performed more than once on a

body in the case of purge or odor.

T

here is an ongoing debate among embalmers as to

whether a body should be cavity embalmed immediately

following the arterial embalming or after a period of

time (2-24 hours). We’ll explore this in Embalming

Theory II.

HYPODERMIC EMBALMING

H

ypodermic embalming is the subcuticular injection of suitable

preservative chemical directly into the tissues.

I

t is accomplished by use of a syringe and needle, or an infant or

standard trocar.

T

he treatment area can include finger tips, the cavity walls of an

autopsied body, or a limb that won’t accept arterial embalming.

W

hat other areas can be hypodermically embalmed?

SURFACE EMBALMING

S

urface embalming is the application of an embalming

chemical directly to the surface of the tissues.

T

he chemicals are applied with an aerosol spray, or

painted on with a brush using a liquid or gel, and can

even be applied using cotton as a surface compress.

SURFACE EMBALMING

A

reas that are surfaced embalmed can be under the

eyelids, the cavity walls in autopsied bodies, and

underneath the cranial scalp when a cranial autopsy

has been performed.

CHRONOLOGY FOR EMBALMING THE

UNAUTOPSIED ADULT BODY

Although these steps vary from one embalmer to another this is a good list to get you started. As you begin to embalm yourself, you will develop your own style. You will learn different steps from different embalmers, and the funeral home you work for may even dictate exactly how the embalming procedure is to be done.


1

. Remove all clothing and record any personal effects

such as a ring, watch, or dentures.• Remember that if a family wants the clothing back

OSHA requires you must first wash it before returning it. Always ask if the family wants the sheet back if the transfer occurred from the home.


2

. Disinfect the body with a droplet spray or disinfectant

solution. Disinfect and clean all of the body orifices with

the solution and swab them clean.

3

. Position the body. Relieve any rigor mortis simply by

manipulating the area with the rigor. Tilt the head slightly

to the right and elevate above the chest.


4

. Wash the body with a germicidal soap. This is the time

to clean underneath the nails. Cleaning the nails after

the arterial injection can cause the skin to tear.

5

. Shave facial hair, only if permission has been given.

DON’T SHAVE A WOMAN OR CHILD WITHOUT

PERMISSION as the book suggests. A family sued a funeral

home once because the embalmer plucked a hair from Aunt Ida’s mole!


6

. Close the mouth. We will learn the different methods

of closure later on in the course. If the dentures are

available and you use them, don’t forget to clean them

before you put them in the mouth (also remember the

GROOVE). Close the eyes using an eye cap. Place

massage cream on the entire face and neck at this time

to prevent drying of the tissue during the arterial

injection.


• Number 6 is also referred to as “setting the features”.

7

. Select the artery and vein that will be used in the

process.

8

. Select and prepare the fluids that will be used.


9

. Inject the embalming solution and ask these

questions:• How much solution is needed?• What should the solution strength be?• Which areas are and which are not receiving

embalming fluid? • When has the body received the right amount of

solution?• We will answer these questions in detail later.


10. After the arterial injection, determine if surface of hypodermic embalming is required.

11. Remove the arterial tubes and drain devices. Dry and tightly suture incisions.

12. Aspirate the body.

13. Inject the cavity the cavity fluid.


1

4. Remove any surgical drains, colostomy bags, or other

such medical devices that were on the body from the

hospital. Open, drain, disinfect, and suture these areas.

W

hy not remove the drains and lines from the body “prior” to

this point?

1

5. Rewash the hair and body. Dry the body. Pack all of the

orifices with cotton. Contrary to the book, you do not need

to glue the eyes and mouth shut on every person.


16. Reaspirate if necessary.

17. Clean and fill the embalming machine with water. Clean all instruments used during the procedure and properly dispose of all waste.

18. Dress the body in plastic garments if necessary. These should not automatically be used.

1

9. Restorative Art treatment can now begin.

CHRONOLOGY FOR THE AUTOPSIED BODY

1

. Spray the body down with a disinfectant and then wash the body with

a liquid soap.

2

. Open the temporary autopsy sutures and if present remove the bag

containing the viscera, place it in a bucket and pour a bottle of cavity

fluid over it.

3

. Relieve the rigor mortis.

4

. Shave the facial hair,with PERMISSION


5

. Clean the oral cavity and close the mouth.

6

. Clean the eyes and close them with eye caps.

7

. Prepare the arterial solution.

8

. Raise the arteries to be used. This will be much more

difficult because each limb has to be embalmed separately.


9

. Inject the legs.

1

0. Select the subclavian or axillary arteries.

1

1. Inject the arms.

1

2. Inject the head using the carotids. Inject the left side first.

1

3. From within the cavity using a small trocar inject the buttocks, trunk

walls, shoulders, and back of the neck.


1

4. Aspirate and dry out all of the cavities.

1

5. Replace the viscera into the cavities.

1

6. Use the baseball stitch to suture the incision.

1

7. Anchor the calavarium in place and suture the scalp closed from the

right to the left.

1

8. Wash and dry the body.


1

9. Apply a surface sealer to the autopsy sutures.

2

0. Glue the mouth and eyes, ONLY IF NEEDED.

2

1. Place the body in plastic garments, ONLY IF NEEDED.

2

2. Restorative Art can now begin.


W

e will go into much greater detail on all of these

autopsied and unautopsied steps before the end of

the school year.

D

on’t panic if you’re not understanding all of this,

we’ll keep putting it together as we go.

REFRIGERATION AND IDENTIFICATION

M

ost bodies using the refrigeration don’t need any type of

handling.

T

hose that do are usually prepared for identification

purposes only. Each funeral home has their protocol for

such an event. Many simply set the features and place

the remains in a hospital gown, cover the body with a

blanket, and lay them on a gurney.


T

he book is very detailed about preparing remains for

an identification. I don’t know of any funeral home

that goes to this extreme. And if they are, they need

to be charging the family a fee because what is

outlined in the book can take almost as long as an

embalming.


I

f you work for a funeral home check into the

procedure for an identification and storage of the

remains.

CHAPTER 2 FUNDAMENTALS OF EMBALMING. TERMINOLOGY The American Board of Funeral Service Education...

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