CMT Anatomy & Pathology for Mortuary Technicians 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which condition results in a soap-like transformation of body fat after prolonged burial in moist conditions?
- Adipocere (Correct answer)
- Mummification
- Putrefaction
- Saponification only
Correct answer: Adipocere
Adipocere is a grave wax or soap-like substance formed when body fat undergoes saponification in moist, anaerobic burial conditions.
Question 2: What is the role of the jugular vein during embalming?
- It serves as the primary drainage vessel from the head (Correct answer)
- It is the main injection artery for the head
- It supplies blood to the brain during life
- It connects the heart to the liver
Correct answer: It serves as the primary drainage vessel from the head
The jugular vein drains blood from the head during the arterial embalming process when the carotid artery is used for injection.
Question 3: A deceased person with jaundice will present with which skin discoloration requiring special cosmetic attention?
- Yellow-green skin tone (Correct answer)
- Bluish-purple mottling
- Reddish-brown patches
- Pale chalky white areas
Correct answer: Yellow-green skin tone
Jaundice causes bilirubin accumulation in tissues, resulting in a yellow-green skin tone that requires specialized cosmetic correction.
Question 4: Which postmortem change refers to the cooling of the body to ambient temperature after death?
- Algor mortis (Correct answer)
- Livor mortis
- Rigor mortis
- Putrefaction
Correct answer: Algor mortis
Algor mortis is the gradual cooling of a body to the surrounding environmental temperature following death.
Question 5: In mortuary pathology, what does 'ecchymosis' describe?
- Bruising caused by subcutaneous hemorrhage (Correct answer)
- Skin discoloration from embalming chemicals
- Postmortem gas bubble formation
- Lividity in dependent body areas
Correct answer: Bruising caused by subcutaneous hemorrhage
Ecchymosis refers to bruising resulting from blood leaking into subcutaneous tissues due to trauma or vascular damage.
Question 6: What anatomical structure is cut and tied during arterial embalming to control drainage?
- The internal jugular vein is opened for drainage, not cut and tied
- The carotid artery is clamped
- The aorta is ligated to prevent backflow
- The femoral vein is tied off after drainage (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The femoral vein is tied off after drainage
The femoral vein is often ligated after drainage is complete to prevent leakage when using the femoral approach for embalming.
CMT Anatomy & Pathology for Mortuary Technicians 2
Which condition results in a soap-like transformation of body fat after prolonged burial in moist conditions?