CHAPTER 7 Questions
1~Define the following terms:
Arterial Fluid~ Concentrated, preservative, embalming chemical that is diluted with
water to for the arterial solution for injection into the arterial system during vascular
embalming. Its purpose is to inactivate saprophytic bacteria and render the body tissues
less susceptible to decomposition.
Coinjection Fluids~ Fluids that are added to the preservative solutions to help increase
the penetrating and distributing quality of the vascular fluid and to help modify and
control the reaction of the preservatives.
Hypertonic Solution~ A solution that contains more of a dissolved solution than what is
found in the blood. This solution removes excess fluid from the tissues due to the greater
amount of dissolved substances that exist within the solution.
Hypotonic Solution~ A solution that contains less of a dissolved substance than is found
in blood. This solution actually aids in the hydration of tissues due to the higher
concentration of the dissolved substances in the in the tissues.
Osmosis~ The passage of a solvent through a semi-permeable membrane from a dilute
solution to a more concentrated solution or fluid.
Preinjection Fluid~ Fluids that are injected before the preservative solution. They have
various functions such as aiding in the removal of the blood from the body and preparing
to tissue for the preservative arterial solution.
Primary Dilution~ The dilution of the arterial fluid prepared by the embalmer.
Secondary Dilution~ The dilution of the embalming fluid by the fluids in the body, both
vascular and interstitial.
2~List and define the four special-purpose arterial fluids. (1)High Index Fluids- theses
fluids have an index of between 30 and 35 and they are designed for use in the
preparation of difficult to embalm bodies. They also can be used for the routine
preparation as well as boosting the firming and preservative qualities of regular solutions.
They can be formulated to be dehydrating or non-dehydrating. (2)Jaundice Fluids- Fluids
that are used to preserve the body but they also hide or rid the body of the mild yellow
jaundice or they prevent the yellow jaundice from turning to green jaundice. (3)Tissue
Gas Fluid-A specifically designed fluid that is formulated to treat the condition known as
Tissue Gas. (4) Infant and Children Fluid-Fluid that has been specifically formulated for
the use of embalming children and infants. The fluid is generally very low in index and
viscous.
3~List and define four types of co-injection fluids. (1) Edema Corrective Fluids-These
fluids enhance the dehydrating effect of the arterial fluid and aid in drying the tissues
that exhibit edema. (2)Germicide Boosters-This fluid increases the germicidal effects of
the arterial fluid and is used in the routine embalming as well as the treatment of bodies
dead from contagious diseases. (3)Humectants-This fluid is an antidehydrant, or
restorative fluid. When they are correctly used they aid in prevention of dehydration and
maintaining tissue moisture. (4) Dyes-agents that are added to the vascular solution that
impart permanent color to the tissues. There are two types of dyes 1-active, which
actively stain the tissues and impart color in an attempt to restore natural color to the dead
body, or 2-inactive, that are non-staining to the tissues, they just impart color to the fluid
in the bottle.
4~Give five uses for a pre-injection fluid. (1) Establish the proper pH in the circulatory
system and adjacent tissues, (2) Aid in keeping the blood in liquid state and free flowing,
(3) Strengthen and lubricate the capillary walls, (4) Clear blood discolorations from the
capillaries and veins, (5) Greatly stimulate uniform drainage.
5~List the eight criteria that help the embalmer to determine the type, strength and
volume of arterial fluid. Time between death and preparation, time between preparation
and disposition, moisture content of the body, weight of the body, protein levels of the
body, progress of postmortem physical and chemical changes, especially the stages of
decomposition and rigor mortis, nature of the death-sudden heart attack versus wasting
away, etc.
6~ List several purposes for the addition of an active dye to the arterial fluid. Inactive
dye is added to arterial solution to color the fluid so that the embalmer know it has been
added to the water in the tank. Active dyes are added to the fluid to act as tracers to
identify where distribution has been successful, help restore natural color to the skin, and
help prevent the body from darkening as a result of reaction with the blood, which
remains in the body after embalming.
7~ Give several uses for autopsy gels. They may be poured over the viscera returned
from an autopsy, applied to the surface of the viscera in partial autopsies, used in the eye
orbits after enucleation, applied to the walls of cavities and surfaces, such as the cranial
and calvarium in autopsied bodies, applied to surface to combat pathological conditions
such as decubitus ulcerations and gangrenous or necrotic areas, applied to disinfect and
an odor reducer, applied to surface areas of the body where the embalmer feels have
received insufficient arterial fluid, applied to discolorations such as ecchymoses and
postmortem stain, applied burnt areas to preserve, cauterize and deodorize, used to pack
anal orifice and colostomy openings.
8~List the body conditions for which a special-purpose, high-index arterial fluid would
be best to use. Bodies dead for extended periods, bodies that have been refrigerated,
bodies that have been frozen, bodies that have undergone extensive treatment with drugs,
institutional bodies, bodies with traumatic injuries which will require restorative
treatments will be needed, bodies with evidence of decomposition, bodies with
gangrenous limbs, bodies that are difficult to firm, bodies with skeletal edema, bodies
dead from renal failure, and bodies with bloodstream infections.
9~ Give several uses for cavity fluids. Preservation of viscera removed from an autopsy,
as a surface compress used to treat tissues not reached by arterial profusion, injection via
hypodermic needle for areas that were not reached by the arterial fluid, a surface
compress used on areas where lesions and pathological conditions are present to dry and
deodorize, as an arterial fluid in difficult cases such as advanced decomposition, tissue
gas, jaundice, as a surface compress for gangrenous and dropsical limbs to help dry and
preserve the tissues, to bleach blood discolorations, to dry tissues when excision has been
performed, for surface preservation of fetal remains.
10~How many ounces of a 25-index arterial fluid must be used to prepare a 1 gallon 2%
strength arterial solution? To prepare a 1.5% strength solution? To prepare a 3.0%
strength solution? (C x V = C’ x V’)
25 x V = 2% x 128
25V=256
V=10.2oz
25 x V = 1.5% x 128
25V=192
V=7.7oz
25 x V = 3.0% x 128
25V=384
V=15.36oz
11~If 8 ounces of a 20-index arterial fluid is used to prepare a 1-gallon solution of
arterial fluid, what will the strength of this solution? If 12 ounces of arterial fluid was
used? If 6 ounces of arterial fluid was used?
20 x 8 = C’ x 128
160=C’128
1.25% Strength
20 x 12 = C’ x 128
240=C’128
1.87% Strength
20 x 6 = C’ x 128
120=C’128
.93% Strength
12~How much water must be added to make a 2,0% arterial solution if 6 ounces of a 20index fluid is used? If you desire to make a 1.5% solution? If you desire to make a 3.0%
solution?
20 x 6 = 2.0% x V’
120=2V’
V’=60 ounces
20 x 6 = 1.5% x V’
120= 1.5V’
V’=80 ounces
20 x 6 = 3.0% x V’
120=3.0V’
V’=40 ounces