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.
UNAUTOPSIED ADULT BODY
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.
UNAUTOPSIED ADULT BODY
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.
UNAUTOPSIED ADULT BODY
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!
UNAUTOPSIED ADULT BODY
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.
UNAUTOPSIED ADULT BODY
• 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.
UNAUTOPSIED ADULT BODY
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.
UNAUTOPSIED ADULT BODY
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.
UNAUTOPSIED ADULT BODY
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.
UNAUTOPSIED ADULT BODY
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
CHRONOLOGY FOR THE AUTOPSIED BODY
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.
CHRONOLOGY FOR THE AUTOPSIED BODY
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.
CHRONOLOGY FOR THE AUTOPSIED BODY
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.
CHRONOLOGY FOR THE AUTOPSIED 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.
CHRONOLOGY FOR THE AUTOPSIED BODY
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.
REFRIGERATION AND IDENTIFICATION
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.
REFRIGERATION AND IDENTIFICATION
I
f you work for a funeral home check into the
procedure for an identification and storage of the
remains.