AAMI Principles of Embalming 3 Final
Exam 2026 Latest Update
Autopsy Gel - Answer- preservative gels are designed as surface or osmotic
preservatives. They not only preserve the tissues but also bleach blood and
decomposition discolorations.
Calvarium --SOLUTION--- dome-like superior portion of the cranium.
Calvarium --SOLUTION--- what is the portion of the head that is removed during a
cranial autopsy.
Eye Enucleation --SOLUTION--- removal of an entire eyeball without rupture.
Hardening Compound --SOLUTION--- chemical in powder form that has the ability to
absorb and to disinfect. Often used in cavity treatment on an autopsied case.
Hardening Compound --SOLUTION--- what is often used in cavity treatment of an
autopsied case?
Hypodermic Embalming --SOLUTION--- injection of embalming chemicals directly into
the tissues through the use of a syringe and needle or trocar.
Necropsy --SOLUTION--- postmortem examination of the organs and tissues of a body
to determine the cause of death or pathological condition.
Surface Embalming --SOLUTION--- direct contact of body tissues with embalming
chemicals.
Worm Suture --SOLUTION--- method of sewing an incision along the edges without
entering the opening whereby the suture becomes invisible and the line of suture
becomes depressed, which lends it ease of concealment by waxing.
Total Body Weight --SOLUTION--- both body water and body fat contribute too?
75 --SOLUTION--- at birth water account for % of body weight.
12 --SOLUTION--- at birth fat accounts for %.
Body Water, 60 --SOLUTION--- at 1 year of age declines to approximately the
normal adult level of % of total body weight.
,25, 30 - Answer- body fat increases at 6 months of age to about % and increases
again to about % at age 1.
Brain --SOLUTION--- in the infant what is the first organ to decompose?
B --SOLUTION--- Knowing that the infant's body has a large amount of moisture, one of
my main concerns as an
embalmer would be to:
a. use a hypotonic solution
b. use a mild solution to keep the skin from wrinkling
c. use an astringent solution to keep the body from dehydrating
d. achieve/maintain a proper moisture balance with my arterial solution
e. avoid aspirating the cranial cavity
A, C, D, F --SOLUTION--- Which of the following vessels are recommended for injecting
the unautopsied infant (select all that
apply):
a. common carotid artery
b. subclavian artery
c. femoral artery
d. abdominal aorta
e. axillary artery
f. ascending aorta
A, C --SOLUTION--- Which of the following vessels would be used on both
unautopsied adults as well as unautopsied
infants?
a. common carotid artery
b. subclavian artery
c. femoral artery
d. abdominal aorta
e. axillary artery
f. ascending aorta
True --SOLUTION--- T/F Senile purpura is an example of ecchymosis
B --SOLUTION--- A slow rate of flow is indicated for injecting someone
demonstrating
senile purpura
in order to:
a.
plump up the tissues
b.
avoid
possible
rupture of fragile capillaries
,c.
better remove the purpural discoloration
True --SOLUTION--- T/F Areas of senile purpura may become engorged with fluid and
swell during arterial injection
A --SOLUTION--- If, during your embalming analysis, you notice the skin over the
purpural areas has been torn or has broken open, all loose skin should be removed
a. prior to
embalming.
b. during
embalming
c. after embalming
d. prior to dressing
C --SOLUTION--- A buildup of metabolic wastes in tissue:
a. would have very little or no effect on embalming
b. would decrease the body's preservative demand
c. would increase the body's preservative demand
D --SOLUTION--- In the elderly, the arteries are often
[the first to become]
sclerotic:
a. axillary
b. carotid
c. external iliac
d. femoral
e. pulmonary
True --SOLUTION--- T/F You may smell a strong odor of
acetone in a diabetes case, as it is present
in the urine and perspiration
Decubitus Ulcers, Pressure Contact --SOLUTION--- Arteriosclerosis may result in poor
circulation, and as a result of the poor circulation, bedfast
individuals tend to form bedsores, also known as ; which develop where there is
.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F preinjection fluids contain little or no preservatives.
False --SOLUTION--- T/F the purpose of coinjection fluid is to prepare the vascular
system and the body tissues for the injection of the preservative solution.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F a coinjection fluid is used to enhance the action of the
preservative solution. It is added to the embalming solution to build up almost all of the
embalming chemicals with the exception of preservatives.
, B --SOLUTION--- Deaths occurring in suspicious circumstances, and sudden deaths
not caused by readily recognizable disease or wherein the cause of death cannot be
properly certified by a physician on the basis of prior (recent) medical attendance would
be considered which type of autopsy?
a. medical
b. medical examiner
False --SOLUTION--- T/F Delays in embalming decrease the possibility of distension
during arterial injection and have no effect on the preservative demand of the tissues.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F Drainage devices do not need to be used for autopsied cases,
but you can still use them if you choose to. Intermittent and alternate drainage greatly
assist in fluid distribution, diffusion, and retention of the arterial solution.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F The medical examiner autopsy is generally a complete
autopsy.
Posterior --SOLUTION--- The (dorsal or ventral) approach to removing the spinal
column involves turning the deceased over onto the stomach and opening the vertebral
column.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F If the subclavian artery is available in the autopsied body, it
would be preferable to use that to inject the arms, rather than using the axillary artery.
C --SOLUTION--- The subclavian artery is usually in diameter than the common carotid
artery.
a. smaller
b. the same size
c. larger
True --SOLUTION--- T/F After the autopsied body has been arterially injected, the
viscera MUST be placed within the body.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F Eye enucleation is the removal of the entire eye, but it is
generally done for corneal transplants, and it is considered tissue (not organ) donation.
Scapula --SOLUTION--- The term "en bloc" means "all together or all at the same time".
What bone is often taken "en bloc" with the proximal humerus?
En Bloc --SOLUTION--- what is the term for "all together or all at the same time."
Discoloration, Drying, Leakage --SOLUTION--- Skin (from skin donors) is most often
removed from areas of the back. What are the three most common problems created for
the embalmer when this is done?
1, 50 --SOLUTION--- gallon of solution should be used for every pounds.
Exam 2026 Latest Update
Autopsy Gel - Answer- preservative gels are designed as surface or osmotic
preservatives. They not only preserve the tissues but also bleach blood and
decomposition discolorations.
Calvarium --SOLUTION--- dome-like superior portion of the cranium.
Calvarium --SOLUTION--- what is the portion of the head that is removed during a
cranial autopsy.
Eye Enucleation --SOLUTION--- removal of an entire eyeball without rupture.
Hardening Compound --SOLUTION--- chemical in powder form that has the ability to
absorb and to disinfect. Often used in cavity treatment on an autopsied case.
Hardening Compound --SOLUTION--- what is often used in cavity treatment of an
autopsied case?
Hypodermic Embalming --SOLUTION--- injection of embalming chemicals directly into
the tissues through the use of a syringe and needle or trocar.
Necropsy --SOLUTION--- postmortem examination of the organs and tissues of a body
to determine the cause of death or pathological condition.
Surface Embalming --SOLUTION--- direct contact of body tissues with embalming
chemicals.
Worm Suture --SOLUTION--- method of sewing an incision along the edges without
entering the opening whereby the suture becomes invisible and the line of suture
becomes depressed, which lends it ease of concealment by waxing.
Total Body Weight --SOLUTION--- both body water and body fat contribute too?
75 --SOLUTION--- at birth water account for % of body weight.
12 --SOLUTION--- at birth fat accounts for %.
Body Water, 60 --SOLUTION--- at 1 year of age declines to approximately the
normal adult level of % of total body weight.
,25, 30 - Answer- body fat increases at 6 months of age to about % and increases
again to about % at age 1.
Brain --SOLUTION--- in the infant what is the first organ to decompose?
B --SOLUTION--- Knowing that the infant's body has a large amount of moisture, one of
my main concerns as an
embalmer would be to:
a. use a hypotonic solution
b. use a mild solution to keep the skin from wrinkling
c. use an astringent solution to keep the body from dehydrating
d. achieve/maintain a proper moisture balance with my arterial solution
e. avoid aspirating the cranial cavity
A, C, D, F --SOLUTION--- Which of the following vessels are recommended for injecting
the unautopsied infant (select all that
apply):
a. common carotid artery
b. subclavian artery
c. femoral artery
d. abdominal aorta
e. axillary artery
f. ascending aorta
A, C --SOLUTION--- Which of the following vessels would be used on both
unautopsied adults as well as unautopsied
infants?
a. common carotid artery
b. subclavian artery
c. femoral artery
d. abdominal aorta
e. axillary artery
f. ascending aorta
True --SOLUTION--- T/F Senile purpura is an example of ecchymosis
B --SOLUTION--- A slow rate of flow is indicated for injecting someone
demonstrating
senile purpura
in order to:
a.
plump up the tissues
b.
avoid
possible
rupture of fragile capillaries
,c.
better remove the purpural discoloration
True --SOLUTION--- T/F Areas of senile purpura may become engorged with fluid and
swell during arterial injection
A --SOLUTION--- If, during your embalming analysis, you notice the skin over the
purpural areas has been torn or has broken open, all loose skin should be removed
a. prior to
embalming.
b. during
embalming
c. after embalming
d. prior to dressing
C --SOLUTION--- A buildup of metabolic wastes in tissue:
a. would have very little or no effect on embalming
b. would decrease the body's preservative demand
c. would increase the body's preservative demand
D --SOLUTION--- In the elderly, the arteries are often
[the first to become]
sclerotic:
a. axillary
b. carotid
c. external iliac
d. femoral
e. pulmonary
True --SOLUTION--- T/F You may smell a strong odor of
acetone in a diabetes case, as it is present
in the urine and perspiration
Decubitus Ulcers, Pressure Contact --SOLUTION--- Arteriosclerosis may result in poor
circulation, and as a result of the poor circulation, bedfast
individuals tend to form bedsores, also known as ; which develop where there is
.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F preinjection fluids contain little or no preservatives.
False --SOLUTION--- T/F the purpose of coinjection fluid is to prepare the vascular
system and the body tissues for the injection of the preservative solution.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F a coinjection fluid is used to enhance the action of the
preservative solution. It is added to the embalming solution to build up almost all of the
embalming chemicals with the exception of preservatives.
, B --SOLUTION--- Deaths occurring in suspicious circumstances, and sudden deaths
not caused by readily recognizable disease or wherein the cause of death cannot be
properly certified by a physician on the basis of prior (recent) medical attendance would
be considered which type of autopsy?
a. medical
b. medical examiner
False --SOLUTION--- T/F Delays in embalming decrease the possibility of distension
during arterial injection and have no effect on the preservative demand of the tissues.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F Drainage devices do not need to be used for autopsied cases,
but you can still use them if you choose to. Intermittent and alternate drainage greatly
assist in fluid distribution, diffusion, and retention of the arterial solution.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F The medical examiner autopsy is generally a complete
autopsy.
Posterior --SOLUTION--- The (dorsal or ventral) approach to removing the spinal
column involves turning the deceased over onto the stomach and opening the vertebral
column.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F If the subclavian artery is available in the autopsied body, it
would be preferable to use that to inject the arms, rather than using the axillary artery.
C --SOLUTION--- The subclavian artery is usually in diameter than the common carotid
artery.
a. smaller
b. the same size
c. larger
True --SOLUTION--- T/F After the autopsied body has been arterially injected, the
viscera MUST be placed within the body.
True --SOLUTION--- T/F Eye enucleation is the removal of the entire eye, but it is
generally done for corneal transplants, and it is considered tissue (not organ) donation.
Scapula --SOLUTION--- The term "en bloc" means "all together or all at the same time".
What bone is often taken "en bloc" with the proximal humerus?
En Bloc --SOLUTION--- what is the term for "all together or all at the same time."
Discoloration, Drying, Leakage --SOLUTION--- Skin (from skin donors) is most often
removed from areas of the back. What are the three most common problems created for
the embalmer when this is done?
1, 50 --SOLUTION--- gallon of solution should be used for every pounds.
