BMS Embalming and Mortuary Chemistry 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An embalmer injects arterial fluid but observes no drainage from the jugular vein. What is the most likely cause?
- The arterial fluid index is too high
- A large blood clot or thrombus is obstructing venous outflow (Correct answer)
- The body has already been cross-linked by rigor mortis
- Insufficient humectant was added to the solution
Correct answer: A large blood clot or thrombus is obstructing venous outflow
Lack of drainage most commonly indicates a venous obstruction such as a postmortem thrombus, antemortem DVT, or coagulated blood blocking the drainage site.
Question 2: What is the chemical significance of the 'demand' of embalming fluid in a given case?
- The total volume of fluid the family requests for sanitation
- The amount of formaldehyde consumed by the body's tissues before preservation is achieved (Correct answer)
- The pH adjustment required to neutralize alkaline tissue
- The minimum injection rate needed to perfuse all capillaries
Correct answer: The amount of formaldehyde consumed by the body's tissues before preservation is achieved
Fluid demand refers to how much formaldehyde the tissue chemically consumes through reactions with proteins, bacteria, and decomposition products before effective preservation occurs.
Question 3: Which dye added to arterial embalming fluid serves as both a cosmetic colorant and an indicator of fluid distribution?
- Methylene blue
- Eosin red (erythrosine)
- D&C Red No. 28 or similar cosmetic dye (Correct answer)
- Prussian blue
Correct answer: D&C Red No. 28 or similar cosmetic dye
Cosmetic dyes such as D&C Red added to arterial fluid impart a lifelike skin tone and allow the embalmer to visually confirm areas of fluid distribution by their coloration.
Question 4: In cases of jaundice, the skin appears yellow due to deposition of which pigment?
- Lipofuscin
- Bilirubin (Correct answer)
- Melanin
- Hemosiderin
Correct answer: Bilirubin
Jaundice results from elevated bilirubin, a bile pigment produced from hemoglobin breakdown, which deposits in skin and sclera when the liver cannot clear it.
Question 5: Why is it important to use a water softener in embalming fluid preparation when the water supply is hard?
- Hard water raises fluid pH to dangerous alkaline levels
- Calcium and magnesium ions in hard water precipitate formaldehyde, reducing its availability (Correct answer)
- Hard water introduces bacteria that contaminate the arterial solution
- Mineral ions in hard water cause excessive foaming in the vascular system
Correct answer: Calcium and magnesium ions in hard water precipitate formaldehyde, reducing its availability
Calcium and magnesium ions in hard water can form insoluble complexes with formaldehyde and other fluid components, reducing effective preservative concentration.
Question 6: A body with severe septicemia is being prepared. Compared to a healthy body, which embalming challenge is MOST significant?
- Decreased fluid demand due to low body mass
- Greatly increased fluid demand because bacterial toxins and proteins consume formaldehyde rapidly (Correct answer)
- Inability to perform cavity embalming due to organ destruction
- Reduced injection pressure required because vessels are dilated
Correct answer: Greatly increased fluid demand because bacterial toxins and proteins consume formaldehyde rapidly
Septicemia introduces massive quantities of bacteria and proteolytic enzymes that rapidly consume injected formaldehyde, dramatically raising the fluid demand needed for preservation.
Question 7: Which postmortem chemical change directly causes the softening of rigor mortis after 24–72 hours?
- Re-synthesis of ATP by residual mitochondrial activity
- Proteolytic enzyme (cathepsin) breakdown of actin-myosin cross-bridges (Correct answer)
- Oxidation of lactic acid back to pyruvate by remaining oxygen
- Calcium ions being pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum
Correct answer: Proteolytic enzyme (cathepsin) breakdown of actin-myosin cross-bridges
As autolytic enzymes — particularly cathepsins — are released from lysosomes, they degrade the actin-myosin filaments holding muscle in contraction, causing rigor to pass.
BMS Embalming and Mortuary Chemistry 5
An embalmer injects arterial fluid but observes no drainage from the jugular vein.
What is the most likely cause?