AAMI Principles OF Embalming 3
Comprehensive Practice Questions and
Answers Verified Solutions Latest Update
2026/2027
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
Possible removal of the spinal cord
●● Suggested order of preparation for autopsy
, Answer:
- Primary disinfection of the body
- Position the body using block and bridges as needed
- Open the cavities and remove all viscera
- Decide on treatment method for viscera
- Locate and ligate the vessels needed for sectional embalming
- Prepare arterial solution according to proper analysis
- Begin sectional embalming
- Supplemental hypodermic injections
- Drain all liquids from body cavities
- Treat all internal surfaces with hardening compound or gel
- Return viscera (in sections or in bag)
- Suture thoracic and abdominal cavities
- Dry cranial cavity and treat with powder or gel
- Suture the scalp
- Perform terminal disinfection
- Glue thoracic and abdominal incisions
- Dress in coveralls or union-alls
●● Locate and ligate the vessels needed for sectional embalming
Answer:
R&L external iliac arteries
R&L axillary or subclavian arteries
R&L common carotid arteries
●● Prepare arterial solution according to proper analysis
Answer:
Cause of death
Size and weight of body
Moisture content (or lack of moisture)
Time interval between death and preparation
●● Begin sectional embalming (in this order)
Answer:
Legs
Arms
Head (left side first)
●● Supplemental hypodermic injections
Comprehensive Practice Questions and
Answers Verified Solutions Latest Update
2026/2027
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
Possible removal of the spinal cord
●● Suggested order of preparation for autopsy
, Answer:
- Primary disinfection of the body
- Position the body using block and bridges as needed
- Open the cavities and remove all viscera
- Decide on treatment method for viscera
- Locate and ligate the vessels needed for sectional embalming
- Prepare arterial solution according to proper analysis
- Begin sectional embalming
- Supplemental hypodermic injections
- Drain all liquids from body cavities
- Treat all internal surfaces with hardening compound or gel
- Return viscera (in sections or in bag)
- Suture thoracic and abdominal cavities
- Dry cranial cavity and treat with powder or gel
- Suture the scalp
- Perform terminal disinfection
- Glue thoracic and abdominal incisions
- Dress in coveralls or union-alls
●● Locate and ligate the vessels needed for sectional embalming
Answer:
R&L external iliac arteries
R&L axillary or subclavian arteries
R&L common carotid arteries
●● Prepare arterial solution according to proper analysis
Answer:
Cause of death
Size and weight of body
Moisture content (or lack of moisture)
Time interval between death and preparation
●● Begin sectional embalming (in this order)
Answer:
Legs
Arms
Head (left side first)
●● Supplemental hypodermic injections
