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Embalming Theory > Chapter 5 Concepts for Study > Flashcards

Chapter 5 Concepts for Study Flashcards

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1
Q

Agonal algor

A

cooling or decrease in body temp. prior to death. Common when death occurs slowly; metabolism and circulation also slow.

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1
Q

Adipocere

A

Final product of fat decomp. AKA grave wax.

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2
Q

Agonal capillary expansion

A

dilation of pores within the capillaries in effort to send more oxygen to the tissues and the cells.

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3
Q

Agonal dehydration

A

a decrease in the amount of moisture, or fluids, in the tissues and body cavities.

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4
Q

Agonal edema

A

an increase in the amount of moisture, or fluids, in the tissues and body cavities. Can result from disease processes and from agonal capillary expansion.

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5
Q

Agonal fever

A

Increase in body temp. prior to death. Common with infection, toxemia and certain types of poisoning. Elevated temps stimulate microbial growth.

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6
Q

Agonal hypostasis

A

Settling of blood into dependent tissues of the body. Slowing of circulation allows the force of gravity to overcome the force of circulation.

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7
Q

Agonal period

A

Period immediately before somatic death. The actively dying stage.

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8
Q

Anabolism

A

The building phase in metabolism

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9
Q

Autolysis

A

Cellular self-decomposition. decomposition of tissue by enzymes of their own formation without microbial assistance.

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10
Q

Biological death

A

Irreversible phase of somatic death; represents cessation of simple body processes. Organs no longer function.

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11
Q

Brain death

A

Occurs in a sequence of events that are a function of time w/o oxygen. First part of the brain to die is there cerebral cortex (5-6 mins). Next the midbrain, then the spinal cord.

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12
Q

Cadaveric spasm

A

sudden involuntary movements or convulsions brought about by involuntary muscular contractions. Occurs when rigor mortis sets in irregularly.

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13
Q

Catabolism

A

Breakdown phase in metabolism

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14
Q

Clinical death

A

when spontaneous respiration and heartbeat irreversibly cease

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15
Q

Contact pallor

A

Refers to the areas where blood movement has been inhibited. Contact pallor areas will not discolor.

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16
Q

Death rattle

A

Gurgling or rattling in the throat caused by the accumulation of mucous and exacerbated by loss of the cough reflex.

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17
Q

Death struggle

A

reflexive twitching of muscles, marking final efforts to sustain life.

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18
Q

Decay

A

Decomposition of proteins by aerobic bacteria

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19
Q

Desquamation

A

Skin slip. Hydrolysis of collagen and elastin causes superficial skin to slough off.

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20
Q

Extrinsic factors

A

Factors outside the body, in the surrounding environment

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21
Q

Fermentation

A

Process in which glucose breaks down. Decomp of carbohydrates.

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22
Q

Hemolysis

A

rupture or destruction of red blood cells. Causes postmortem stain.

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23
Q

Intrinsic factors

A

Factors within the body

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24
Moribund
Body is the actively dying stage. When a person is in the agonal period they are said to be _____.
25
Postmortem cellular death
Cell vital surplus depleted and cells die. May take hours depending on different variables.
26
Rigor mortis
Chemical change; postmortem stiffening of muscles by natural processes.
27
Postmortem stain
chemical change; extravascular blood discoloration brought about by the hemolysis of blood. Cannot be cleared with embalming.
28
Postmortem caloricity
Chemical change, rise in body temp. due to increased cellular metabolism.
29
Postmortem shifts in pH
Normal pH for the body is ___. After death there is a drop in pH of blood and tissue fluid. The body remains acidic during rigor mortis and then gradually , as decomposition advances, becomes increasing alkaline
30
Decomposition
the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler substances.
31
Algor mortis
postmortem cooling of the body over time. Will cool to surrounding temp. Intrinsic factors: corpulence (fat), body temp at TOD Extrinsic factors: clothing, environment temp/humidity
32
Hypostasis
process by which blood settles, as a result of gravitational movement within the vessels, to the dependent, or lower parts of the body. Depends on body position
33
Livor mortis
postmortem intravascular blood discoloration that occurs as a result of hypostasis. AKA postmortem lividity or cadaveric lividity. Discoloration appears 30-90 minutes after death. Can be flushed out during embalming. Degree of livor mortis depends on blood volume and blood viscosity.
34
Dehydration (desiccation)
Loss of water and fluids from body tissues. Two factors at work here: surface evaporation (passage of air over surface of body) and gravitation (physical movement of fluids to dependent regions). Yellow to brown to black. Shrivel and wrinkle.
35
Increase in blood viscosity
Two parts of blood “Solid” made up of groups of blood cells “Liquid” in which those cells are suspended; Blood can thicken after death from dehydration, inhibits drainage. Hypostasis favors liquid blood.
36
Endogenous invasion of microorganisms
Tissue barriers lose structural integrity after death Post Mortem Factors contributing to translocation include: Chemical and physical changes, Movement and positional changes of the body, Passive recirculation of blood from contaminated body sites, Thrombus Fragmentation and relocation, Intestinal Bacilli mobility
37
Primary flaccidity
when muscles are relaxed immediately after death.
38
Ptomaine
foul amines; a group of malodorous amine compounds formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria.
39
Putrefaction
Decomposition of proteins by anaerobic bacteria
40
Secondary flaccidity
muscle relaxation after rigor mortis has passed (36 - 72 hours)
41
Sludge
Blood sticking together in clumps due to dehydration
42
Somatic death
When the body loses ability to sustain physiologic and metabolic activity. Death of the entire body.
43
Taphonomy
Scientific study of decomposition. Study how processes (such as burial, decay and preservation) affect remains. Body farms.
44
Translocation
a movement of microorganisms from one area of the body to another. Results from having natural motility, entering the blood stream and circulating to other parts of the body or gravitating to other parts of the body during hypostasis or shifts in tissue moisture. Occurs agonally and postmortem. Tissue barriers lose structural integrity after death
45
Postmortem cellular death
Process during which individual cells die. May take a matter of hours depending on numerous variables.
46
Time it takes Brain and nervous system cells to die
5 mins
47
Time it takes muscle cells to die
3 hours
48
Time it takes cornea cells to die
6 hours
49
Time it takes blood cells to die
6 hours
50
Necrobiosis
Physiologic or natural death of cells as they complete their life cycles. Physiological death of the cells of the body followed by their replacement
51
Necrosis
Pathologic death of body cells as a result of disease processes (decubitus ulcers and gangrene)
52
Agonal coagulation
as circulation f blood slows and the formed elements of the blood begin to clot and congeal.
53
Postmortem edema
over-accumulation of tissue fluids from hypostasis/gravitation
54
Imbibition
causes postmortem edema, ability for cells to draw moisture from surrounding area into themselves.
55
Tardieu spots
result from rupture of capillaries (18-24 hours postmortem). Dark pinpoint hemorrhages in the same dependent areas as livor mortis and postmortem stain. Common in slow deaths and death by ashpyxia.
56
Nysten's Law
directional occurrence of rigor mortis from the face to the feet
57
Apparent Death
condition in which manifestations of life are feebly maintained
58
antemortem
before death
59
Apoptosis
Antemortem Cell suicide Process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes (morphology) and death
60
Decubitus Ulcers
Bedsores, example of Necrobiosis
61
Changes in agonal period
Thermal changes: agonal algor, agonal fever Circulatory changes: Agonal Hypostasis, Agonal Coagulation (congealing) Moisture Changes: Agonal Edema, Agonal dehydration
62
Other types of translocation Agonally
Gas in the tissue (antemortem subcutaneous emphysema, gas gangrene) Therapeutic agents (chemotherapuetic agents, blood thinners, antibiotics, vasodilators)
63
Signs of death
- cessation of respiration - cessation of circulation - complete muscular relaxation - Changes in eye - postmortem lividity - rigor mortis - algor mortis - decomposition
64
Changes in eye postmortem
- clouding of cornea - lost of luster of conjunctiva - flattening of eyeball - pupil dilation, non-response to light
65
Postmortem Physical changes
- algor mortis - hypostasis - livor mortis (cadaveric lividity) - dehydration - blood viscosity increase - translocation of microorganisms
66
Postmortem Chemical changes
- postmortem caloricity - postmortem stain - change in body pH - Rigor mortis - Decomposition
67
Postmortem factors contributing to translocation include:
- chemical and physical changes - movement and positional changes of the body - Passive recirculation of blood from contaminated body sites - thrombus fragmentation and relocation - Intestinal Bacilli mobility
68
Petechia Hemorrhage
Antemortem, pinpoint extravascular blood discoloration visible as a purplish hemorrhage of the skin. (considered hematoma)
69
Tardieu spot
Postmortem. Extravascular blood discoloration caused by rupture of minute rupture of minute vessels as blood settles. 18-24 hours after death. (considered heamtoma) Petechia 1-2mm, Purpura 3mm-1cm, Eccymoses >1cm
70
Change in body pH
Normal pH is 7.4. After death there is a drop in pH of blood and tissue fluid. - body remains acidic during rigor mortis and then gradually, as decomp. advances, becomes increasingly alkaline - During rigor mortis the pH as low as 5 -6 - During advanced decomp, pH returns to alkaline register
71
Hydrolysis
most important factor. Chemical reaction in which bonds of a substance are split by addition or taking up of water. First chemical reaction in the putrefactive process.
72
Saccharolysis
Decomp. of sugars
73
Proteolysis
Decomp of proteins. two types: Putrefaction and Decay.
74
Lipolysis
Decomp of fats. Adipocere (grave wax) final product of decomp.
75
Timeline of Decomposition
- Carbohydrates - Soft proteins - Fats - Hard proteins - bones Organs: - First: Lining membrane of the trachea and larynx, except for the brain of an infant and the pregnant uterus - Last: non-pregnant uterus or large blood vessels in the male and female. Vascular system.
76
Signs of Decomposition
- color change (green, brownish purple) - odor (cadaverine and putrecine) - gas - purge - Desquamation
77
Types of purge
stomach - coffee grounds lung - frothy Usually both exit from mouth and nose
78
Decomposition Intrinsic factors
- age - sex - corpulence - cause and manner of death - bacterial and parasitic activity - pharmaceutical agents
79
Decomposition Extrinsic factors
- air - moisture - temp. (below 32 stop decomp, opt 98, max 120 will also halt) - bacterial and parasitic activity - pressure due to earth or clothing - vermin: maggots, lice, rats
80
Expert tests for death
- stethoscope - ophthalmoscope - injections of various dyes into blood to test circulation - electronic life detection devices - evoked response
81
Inexpert tests for death
- mirror fogging - ligature test - ammonia injection test - check for a pulse - listen for respiration or heartbeat

Embalming Theory (5 decks)

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