AAMI PRINCIPLES OF EMBALMING 3
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED PRACTICE SOLUTIONS
●● Medical autopsy
Answer: Hospital autopsy
●● Medico-legal autopsy
Answer: Forensic autopsy
●● Contract autopsy
Answer: Private autopsy
●● Autopsies can be either
Answer: Complete or partial
●● Medical/Hospital autopsy may be performed when
Answer: No firm diagnosis
As a teaching tool
Quality of care issues
Medical complications
,Death during child birth
Concerns about insurance
Sudden, unexpected death
Concerns about hereditary disease
Environmental or work place hazards
New or unusual or experimental treatment
Death not under jurisdiction of the medical examiner
●● Medico-legal/Forensic autopsy
Answer: Death of the mother during an abortion (legal or illegal)
Fetal death or death within 24 house of birth
Spontaneous abortions and miscarriages
Operative and peri-operative death
Unidentified or unclaimed body
Violent or traumatic death
Suspicious death
Sudden death
Uncertainty
●● General guidelines for need of an autopsy
Answer: Child with evidence of injury without explanation
Death in workplace
,Homicide
Suspected drug overdose
Motor vehicle accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Prison fatalities
SIDS
Suspected drug overdose
Suspected poisoning
Trauma
Unexplained Death
●● Safety and work practice controls for the embalmer
Answer: Continuous aspiration
Cover broken or cut bones
Clamp leaking arteries and veins
Wash gloved hands frequently
Run water on table continuously at low pressure
Be aware of where sharp instruments are laid during embalming
●● General recommendations for autopsy
Answer: Preparation of autopsied bodies are usually delayed
Use a stronger than average arterial solution
, Use plenty of active dye
Embalm the head slowly, avoid distention
●● Complete autopsy includes removal of
Answer: Cranial cavity and its contents
Organs and glands of the neck
Thoracic cavity and its contents
May include eye enucleation
●● Autopsy of cranial cavity and its contents includes
Answer: Removal of the brain
Removal of the pituitary gland
Possible removal of temporal bone and inner ear
●● Autopsy of organs and glands of the neck includes removal of
Answer: Thyroid gland, larynx, esophagus and trachea
Possible removal of carotid arteries
Possible removal of the tongue
●● Autopsy of thoracic cavity and its contents includes removal of
Answer: Abdominal cavity and its contents
Pelvic cavity and its contents
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED PRACTICE SOLUTIONS
●● Medical autopsy
Answer: Hospital autopsy
●● Medico-legal autopsy
Answer: Forensic autopsy
●● Contract autopsy
Answer: Private autopsy
●● Autopsies can be either
Answer: Complete or partial
●● Medical/Hospital autopsy may be performed when
Answer: No firm diagnosis
As a teaching tool
Quality of care issues
Medical complications
,Death during child birth
Concerns about insurance
Sudden, unexpected death
Concerns about hereditary disease
Environmental or work place hazards
New or unusual or experimental treatment
Death not under jurisdiction of the medical examiner
●● Medico-legal/Forensic autopsy
Answer: Death of the mother during an abortion (legal or illegal)
Fetal death or death within 24 house of birth
Spontaneous abortions and miscarriages
Operative and peri-operative death
Unidentified or unclaimed body
Violent or traumatic death
Suspicious death
Sudden death
Uncertainty
●● General guidelines for need of an autopsy
Answer: Child with evidence of injury without explanation
Death in workplace
,Homicide
Suspected drug overdose
Motor vehicle accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Prison fatalities
SIDS
Suspected drug overdose
Suspected poisoning
Trauma
Unexplained Death
●● Safety and work practice controls for the embalmer
Answer: Continuous aspiration
Cover broken or cut bones
Clamp leaking arteries and veins
Wash gloved hands frequently
Run water on table continuously at low pressure
Be aware of where sharp instruments are laid during embalming
●● General recommendations for autopsy
Answer: Preparation of autopsied bodies are usually delayed
Use a stronger than average arterial solution
, Use plenty of active dye
Embalm the head slowly, avoid distention
●● Complete autopsy includes removal of
Answer: Cranial cavity and its contents
Organs and glands of the neck
Thoracic cavity and its contents
May include eye enucleation
●● Autopsy of cranial cavity and its contents includes
Answer: Removal of the brain
Removal of the pituitary gland
Possible removal of temporal bone and inner ear
●● Autopsy of organs and glands of the neck includes removal of
Answer: Thyroid gland, larynx, esophagus and trachea
Possible removal of carotid arteries
Possible removal of the tongue
●● Autopsy of thoracic cavity and its contents includes removal of
Answer: Abdominal cavity and its contents
Pelvic cavity and its contents
