Week 6 Embalming Fluids & Fluid Chemistry

Question 1

concentrated preservative chemicals used primarily for arterial embalming for the purpose of preservation and disinfection

Answer 1

arterial fluid

Question 2

arterial fluids function primarily on ____ in the body

Answer 2

proteins

Question 3

arterial fluid that contains active dyes intended to restore a more natural skin tone

Answer 3

cosmetic fluid

Question 4

mixture of arterial fluid and water used for arterial injection with the possible inclusion of supplemental fluids

Answer 4

arterial solution

Question 5

fluids designed to clear the vascular system of blood and enable the arterial solution to distribute more effectively; can include water conditioners, surfactants, anticoagulants, humectants

Answer 5

pre-injection fluid

Question 6

primarily used to supplement and enhance the action of vascular (arterial) fluid

Answer 6

co-injection fluid

Question 7

a chemical that inactivates saprophytic bacteria and attempts to arrest decomposition by converting body tissue to a form less susceptible to decomposition

Answer 7

preservative

Question 8

an agent, usually chemical, applied to inanimate objects / surfaces to destroy most disease-causing microbial agents, excluding bacterial spores

Answer 8

disinfectant

Question 9

liquid that serves as a solvent for embalming fluids

Answer 9

vehicle

Question 10

agent that will impart permanent color to tissues

Answer 10

active dye

Question 11

agent that will not impart permanent color to tissues; generally used to impart color to a chemical

Answer 11

inactive dye

Question 12

chemical found in arterial fluid having the capability of displacing an unpleasant odor or altering an unpleasant odor so that it is converted to a more pleasant one

Answer 12

perfuming agents (masking agents)

Question 13

chemical within the arterial fluid to deal with varying demands predicated upon the condition of the deceased, the environment, and the preservative to be used

Answer 13

modifying agent

Question 14

HCHO

Answer 14

formaldehyde

Question 15

formaldehyde is a colorless, odorless liquid (T/F)

Answer 15

false (colorless toxic gas with odor)

Question 16

formaldehyde gas dissolved in water at 37% by weight and 40% by volume

Answer 16

formalin (methylene glycol)

Question 17

formaldehyde is more stable than formalin (T/F)

Answer 17

false (formalin is more stable)

Question 18

a polymer of formaldehyde commonly used in autopsy compound

Answer 18

paraformaldehyde

Question 19

advantages of formaldehyde (6)

Answer 19

-inexpensive
-bactericidal
-rapidly destroys enzymes
-inhibits growth of yeasts and molds
-rapidly acts on body proteins
-small amount required for a large amount of tissue

Question 20

disadvantages of formaldehyde (6)

Answer 20

-can coagulate blood
-converts tissue to a gray hue (formaldehyde gray)
-can “fix” discolorations
-dehydrating
-deteriorates with age
-narrow optimal pH (7.3 –7.5)

Question 21

factors influencing formaldehyde shelf life (5)

Answer 21

-temperature
-time
-methanol (anti-polymerizing agent)
-pH
-light

Question 22

strength of embalming fluids indicated by the number of grams of pure formaldehyde gas dissolved in 100 ml of solution; usually refers to a percentage

Answer 22

index

Question 23

range of formaldehyde considered low index

Answer 23

0-18

Question 24

range of formaldehyde considered medium index

Answer 24

19-27

Question 25

range of formaldehyde considered high index

Answer 25

28-36

Question 26

alternative to formaldehyde for preservation; colorless liquid at room temperature

Answer 26

glutaraldehyde (C5H8O2)

Question 27

advantages of glutaraldehyde (6)

Answer 27

-liquid at room temperature -less of an odor than HCHO -less inhalation exposure -wider pH range (7.3 –9.0) -less dehydrating -produces a softer tissue

Question 28

surface disinfectants that are generally used for disinfection of skin, oral, and nasal cavities, as well as instruments

Answer 28

quaternary ammonium compounds (quats)

Question 29

chemicals that increase the capability of tissues to retain moisture; include aloe, glycerol, sorbitol, glycol, lanolin

Answer 29

humectants

Question 30

substances capable of maintaining a constant pH by neutralizing both acids and bases; include borax, sodium phosphates, citrates, sodium salt of EDTA

Answer 30

buffers

Question 31

agent used to remove elements from the water supply

Answer 31

water conditioner

Question 32

substance used as an anticoagulant in embalming solutions that binds metallic ions

Answer 32

chelate

Question 33

chemical agent that isolates metal ions so they cannot adversely react with blood or water; includes sodium citrate, sodium salt of EDTA

Answer 33

sequestering agents

Question 34

chemicals that reduce the molecular cohesion and surface tension of a liquid so that it can flow through smaller apertures; include sulfonates, sodium lauryl sulfate

Answer 34

surfactants (surface tension reducers, wetting agents, penetrating agents, surface active agents)

Question 35

low formaldehyde arterial fluid with bleaching and coloring qualities for use on bodies with excessive concentrations of bilirubin in the skin and tissues

Answer 35

jaundice fluid

Question 36

chemical used to lighten a skin discoloration

Answer 36

bleaching agent

Question 37

technique using active dye in an attempt to cover internal discolorations such as jaundice

Answer 37

counterstaining

Question 38

concentrated embalming chemical injected into the cavities of the body following the aspiration of the body; can also be used in hypodermic and surface embalming

Answer 38

cavity fluid

Question 39

agent employed in the preparation of tissues for the purpose of maintaining the existing form of the structure

Answer 39

fixative

Question 40

any chemical used in the preparation of human remains that is not injected into the arterial system or cavities

Answer 40

accessory chemical

Question 41

chemical in powder form that has the ability to absorb moisture and/or preserve tissue; used in cavity treatment of autopsied cases

Answer 41

hardening compound

Question 42

chemical that inactivates saprophytic bacteria and attempts to arrest decomposition by converting body tissue to a form less susceptible to decomposition; may have hardening, disinfecting, and/or moisture absorbing properties; often paraformaldehyde based

Answer 42

preservative powder

Question 43

hardening compounds, preservative powder, surface applicants, internal/external sealing agents, cauterants, mold inhibitors

Answer 43

accessory chemicals

Question 44

preservative chemical actions (5)

Answer 44

-inactivation of chemical groups of proteins or amino acids -inhibition of further decomposition -inactivation of enzymes -killing of microorganisms -destruction of odors and elimination of further odor production

Question 45

a single carbon structure; in embalming, this is the product of the reaction of an aldehyde and protein referred to as a “cross-link”

Answer 45

methylene bridge

Question 46

the methylene bridge is formed between two ____ atoms in two proteins and formaldehyde; water is a product

Answer 46

nitrogen

Question 47

methylene bridge results (3)

Answer 47

-takes away a nutrient source for bacteria -kills bacteria -firms tissue at a microscopic level

Question 48

formaldehyde is more effective at forming methylene bridges at multiple sites than glutaraldehyde (T/F)

Answer 48

true

Question 49

metabolic by-products such as urea and uric acid which tend to neutralize formaldehyde

Answer 49

nitrogenous waste

Question 50

the amount of preservative necessary to properly embalm human remains

Answer 50

preservative demand

Question 51

the neutralization product of formaldehyde and ammonia

Answer 51

urotropin