Funeral Service Mortuary Science and Pathology Flashcards
7 cards from real Funeral Service Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Funeral Service Mortuary Science and Pathology flashcards as text
Which postmortem change would an embalmer find most advanced after approximately 72 hours at room temperature without refrigeration?
Answer: Active putrefaction with gas formation and odor
By 72 hours at room temperature, bacteria-driven putrefaction is well advanced, producing foul odors, gas bloating, and tissue breakdown.
The femoral artery is chosen as an alternative injection site primarily when:
Answer: Trauma or pathology makes the carotid or radial sites inaccessible
The femoral artery in the thigh is used when primary cervical or axillary sites are damaged, blocked, or unavailable due to trauma or surgery.
In the context of mortuary science, 'purge' refers to:
Answer: Escape of decomposition gases and fluids from body orifices
Purge is the postmortem expulsion of gas, blood, or other body fluids from natural orifices such as the mouth or nose due to decomposition or organ failure.
Which histological term describes the programmed cell death that is a normal physiological process distinct from necrosis?
Answer: Apoptosis
Apoptosis is genetically programmed cell death that occurs in a controlled, orderly manner and does not trigger inflammation, unlike necrosis.
When embalming a body with extensive edema, the embalmer should expect:
Answer: Dilution of preservative by excess interstitial fluid requiring higher-index solutions
Edema dilutes injected preservative fluid with excess interstitial water, so embalmers must use higher-index fluids or supplemental preservative treatments.
The term 'thanatology' is best defined as:
Answer: The scientific study of death, dying, and bereavement
Thanatology is the multidisciplinary study of death and dying, encompassing psychological, social, and biological aspects of mortality.
What is the primary purpose of hypodermic injection in embalming?
Answer: To treat localized areas of tissue that arterial fluid did not adequately reach
Hypodermic injection delivers preservative directly into specific tissue areas, such as the hands or face, where arterial distribution was insufficient.