(Q4) Embalming Fluids Flashcards
1
Q
Types of Embalming Fluids
A
- Preservatives
- Supplementary Germicides
- Modifying Agents
- Anticoagulants
- Surfactants
- Dyes
- Deodorants
- Vehicles
- (Autopsy chemicals)
2
Q
Preservatives
A
- Fluids that alter the proteins in the body so the enzymes of decomposition do not work
- Alters proteins structure
- Alters enzymes
3
Q
Examples of Preservatives
A
- Aldehydes
- Alcohols
- Phenolic Compounds
4
Q
Aldehydes
A
- All aldehydes work by cross-linking proteins
- Smaller aldehydes (formaldehyde) produce better firmness than dialdehydes (glutaraldehyde) because they produce more cross-links
5
Q
Most commonly used aldehydes in embalming:
A
Formaldehyde and Glutaraldehyde
6
Q
Aliphatic Alcohols
A
- Methanol (wood alcohol)
- Ethanol (grain alcohol)
- Isopropanol (rubbing alcohol)
7
Q
What does methanol also do in embalming fluid?
A
- Antipolymerizing product (extends shelf-life)
8
Q
What does ethanol also do in embalming fluid?
A
- Increases the solubility of formaldehyde (keeps it in the solution)
9
Q
What does isopropanol also do in embalming fluid?
A
- Increases diffusion of formaldehyde
10
Q
Aromatic Alcohols
A
- Phenol and Phenolic Compounds
11
Q
What is Phenol?
A
- Aromatic Alcohol
- Weak Acid
- Used as a disinfectant, bleaching Agent, and preservative
- Other names: Hydroxybenze and Carbolic Acid
- Perservative used in anatomical specimens
12
Q
Disadvantage of Phenol
A
- It may turn the tissue a putty gray color when used with an aldehyde
13
Q
Supplementary Germicides
A
- Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATs)
- Glutaraldehyde
14
Q
Example of Phenol in a commercial product
A
Dodge Dryene
15
Q
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATs)
A
- Surfactant
- Widely used for the disinfection of instruments, skin, oral and nasal passages,
- Easily neutralized by soaps and anionic substances found in arterial fluids (so their use is restricted to surface disinfection and specialty fluids
16
Q
Example of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATs) in a commercial product
A
Dodge Dis-Spray
17
Q
Glutaraldehyde
A
- A dialdehyde
- best germicide of the aldehydes
- Cold chemical sterilant (cold or liquid sterilizing agent)
- Mainly used for sterilizing instruments but can be present in arterial fluids
18
Q
Modifying Agents
A
- Agents that modify the action of harsh substances in arterial fluids
- Humectants
- Buffers
19
Q
Humectants
A
Moisture-retaining agents
- Help to offset dehydration by imparting a pliable and flexible effect to the tissues
20
Q
Examples of Humectants
A
- Glycerol
- Glycols
- Sorbitol
- Water-soluble Lanolin compounds
21
Q
What type of alcohols are glycols?
A
Dihydroxy alcohols
22
Q
Examples of glycols
A
- hexylene glycol
- ethylene glycol
23
Q
What type of alcohol is glycerol?
A
trihydroxy alcohol
24
Q
What type of alcohol is sorbitol?
A
Polyhydroxy alcohol
25
What is Lanolin?
- a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. (sheep)
- A humectant
- Acts as an emollient (gives a soft-like feel to the body) when injected into the body
26
Example of a humectant in a commercial product
Dodge Restorative
27
Buffers
Substances that resist change in pH when an acid or a base is added to a solution
28
Why are buffers important to have in your embalming solution?
- somatic death is followed by a pH shift
29
Examples of Buffers
- Borax (sodium borate)
- Disodium phosphate
- sodium bicarbonate
- EDTA (both a buffer and anticoagulant)
30
Anticoagulants
- Substances that will react with the calcium ions to help resist clotting making the blood easier to remove
- Also known as water conditioning agents
31
Why are anticoagulants important to have in your embalming solution?
- Ionized calcium is one of the key factors in blood coagulation
- Dissolved calcium ions can cause a condition known as water hardness
- In embalming, water is the principal vehicle so the calcium ion content of the water must be controlled
- Hard water contributes to blood clotting and interferes with drainage
32
Examples of anticoagulants
- EDTA
- Sodium or potassium citrate
- Sodium or potassium oxalates
33
Example of an anticoagulant in commercial use
Dodge Rectifiant
34
Surfactants
- Substances that reduce the surface tension of a liquid
- Also known as wetting agents or surface active agents
35
Why are surfactants important to have in your embalming solution?
- Surface tension is the force that acts on the surface of a liquid and tends to minimize surface area
- A similar tension exists between liquids and the surface of a cell membrane interfering with the diffusion of the liquid into the cell
- Surfactants facilitate the flow of embalming chemicals through the capillary walls and into the tissue to ensure complete diffusion and saturation of the tissue cells by the preservatives
36
Examples of surfactants
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
37
Dyes
- Substances that impart color to the skin (active dye) or impart color to the liquid in the container (inactive dye)
- Embalming active dyes range from a pale yellow color to a bright red color
38
Examples of Dyes
- Eosin
- Erythrosin
- Ponceau Red
- Icterin
39
Eosin
- A yellowish-orange color
- Stains the tissue (active dye)
40
Erythrosin
- A cherry red color
- Stains the tissue (active dye)
41
Ponceau Red
- A red color
- A non-staining dye used primarily to color the fluid rather than stain the tissues (inactive dye)
42
Icterin
- Yellowish color
43
Reodorants
- Substances that mask odor
- Perfuming or masking agents
44
Deodorants
- Substances that destroy odors
45
Why are reodorants and deodorants important?
They cover up the harsh odors of the preservatives and the disinfectants found in embalming fluids
46
Examples of reodorants and deodorants
- Benzaldehyde
- Oil of Wintergreen (methyl salicylate)
- Oil of Cloves
- Oil of Sassafras
- Cinnamaldehyde
47
Vehicles
- Solvent: The liquid medium that the embalming chemicals are dissolved in
- The vehicle is what carries the embalming agent to the tissues and improves distribution and diffusion
48
Examples of Vehicles
- Water
- Methanol
- Ethanol
- Glycerin
49
Water
- The main vehicle for arterial fluids
50
Methanol
- A vehicle that also has preservative action and prevents the polymerization of aldehydes
51
Ethanol
- A vehicle that also improves the solubility of formaldehyde in water
52
Glycerin
- A vehicle that is also used as a humectant
53
Cavity Fluids
- Fluids used to thoroughly embalm the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities and organs
- Have a different composition than arterial fluids
54
How are cavity fluids different than arterial fluids?
- Cavity fluids contain a much higher concentration of disinfectants and preservatives than arterial fluids
- Cavity fluids usually do not contain dyes, deodorants, humectants, or buffers (no need for a restorative effect)
55
Why are cavity fluids important?
- Arterial embalming alone will not thoroughly disinfect and preserve human remains
- The thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities and the organs they contain must receive supplementary embalming treatment
56
The pH of cavity fluid
- Acidic: 4.5-5.2
- The pH of the cavity fluid results in efficient action of the formaldehyde with the tissue proteins
57
Pre-Injection Fluid
- Substance that prepares the vascular system for the injection of preservatives and disinfectants
- Introduced into the vascular system against closed drainage before arterial embalming
- (Ex. Capillary wash: not often used anymore, used to warm and soften vessels before embalming with arterial)
58
Contents of Pre-Injection Fluids
- Water conditioning agents
- surfactants
- humectants
- Low concentration or no concentration of preservative
59
Examples of pre-injection fluids in commercial use
- Dodge proflow
- Dodge metaflow
- Dodge one point
60
Coinjection Fluids
- Substances mixed with arterial fluids so they are injected concurrently
- Have a very similar composition to preinjection fluids
61
Contents in Coinjection Fluids
- Humectants
- Cosmetic Dyes
62
Examples of coinjection fluids in commercial use
- Dodge regal
- Dodge restorative has humectant
63
Accessory Fluids
- Fluids used for special restorative conditions
64
Examples of Accessory Fluids
- Jaundice Fluids
- Advanced Decomposition Fluids
- Edema Fluids
65
Jaundice Fluids
- Fluids to combat the yellow skin discoloration from jaundice
66
Why are jaundice fluids important?
- Jaundice is a pathological condition that causes a yellow discoloration of the skin
- Jaundice results from excessive amounts of the bile pigment bilirubin
- Arterial fluids can convert bilirubin into biliverdin, which produces a greenish discoloration
- Neither discoloration is desirable for the purposes of restoration
67
Examples of Jaundice Fluids
- Masking Fluids
- Bleaching Agents
- Nonformadehyde fluids
68
Masking Agents
Fluids that have a medium concentration of formaldehyde and cosmetic dyes
69
Bleaching Agents
- Fluids that have a bleaching effect on the bilirubin.
- Have a medium concentration of formaldehyde
70
Non-formaldehyde Fluids
Fluids designed to remove discoloration by flushing them from the tissues and the vascular system
71
Advanced Decomposition or Unusual Pathological Conditions Fluids
Fluids that contain:
- High index fluid (30+ index)
- Ethanol: increases the solubility of the formaldehyde in water
72
Edema Fluids
- Fluids that control the edema in the body
73
Tips for edematous cases
- Never use a preinjection fluid
- Varying the dilution of the arterial solution will be necessary
- Use restricted cervical injection and/or multipoint injection
74
Autopsy Chemicals
- Chemicals use to preserve autopsy cases
75
Why are autopsy chemicals important?
- During autopsies, the thoracic and abdominopelvic organs are removed from the cavities, then they are sectioned and replaced
- The removal of organs interrupts the vascular supply to both the viscera and the cavities
- Supplemental embalming treatment is required
76
Hardening Compounds
- Compounds in autopsy chemicals that treat the viscera
- Purposes: dehydration, preservation, disinfection
77
Contents in hardening autopsy chemicals
- Paraformaldehyde
- Alum
- Aluminum chloride
- Fillers
- Plaster of Paris
78
Paraformaldehyde
- A preservative and disinfectant found in hardening autopsy chemicals
- It is a solid (not a gas)
79
Aluminum Chloride
A dehydrating agent and disinfectant found in hardening autopsy chemicals
80
Fillers
- A dehydrating agent and disinfectant found in hardening autopsy chemicals
- Perlite
- Cellulose (Sawdust)
81
Plaster of Paris
- A dehydrating agent found in hardening autopsy chemicals
82
Liquid Gel Chemicals
Chemical substances used to treat the cavity walls of autopsied remains
- Generally the composition as cavity fluids, but in gel form to easily apply to the cavity walls
83
Example of a liquid gel chemical in commercial use
Dodge Sin-gel
