Embalming involves treating a deceased body with chemical solutions to temporarily preserve it and delay decomposition. This procedure also sanitizes the body and often restores a more natural appearance for viewing purposes. Embalming fluid is a blend of various chemical compounds, each serving a specific function.
Formaldehyde’s Central Role
Formaldehyde is a primary component of most embalming fluids, playing a central role in preserving human remains. Its effectiveness stems from its ability to fix proteins within tissues, essentially cross-linking them. This chemical reaction alters the proteins, making them unsuitable as a food source for bacteria, thereby preventing decomposition.
This aldehyde also acts as a powerful disinfectant, killing bacteria and microorganisms that contribute to decay. The concentration of formaldehyde in embalming fluids typically ranges from 5% to 37%. Formaldehyde’s properties allow it to stabilize tissues, helping to maintain the body’s structure and appearance for funeral viewings.
Other Key Components
Beyond formaldehyde, embalming fluids contain a variety of other chemicals, each with a specialized function. Glutaraldehyde is another potent fixative, effective against bacteria and viruses, and sometimes preferred for causing less tissue distortion than formaldehyde. Humectants, such as glycols and sorbitol, help tissues retain moisture, preventing dehydration and maintaining a more natural appearance.
Anticoagulants, like sodium citrate, are added to prevent blood from clotting and to break down existing clots, which allows for better distribution of the embalming fluid throughout the circulatory system. Disinfectants and germicides are included to sanitize the body and inhibit microbial growth. Dyes are used to restore a lifelike color to the skin, counteracting discoloration that can occur after death, and perfuming agents mask unpleasant odors.
How Embalming Works
The embalming process involves injecting the fluid into the arterial system, often through a main artery like the carotid or femoral, while simultaneously allowing blood to drain from a vein. This arterial injection ensures the preservative solution circulates throughout the body, displacing the blood.
As the fluid permeates the tissues, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde initiate their protein-fixing action, stabilizing cellular structures and preventing enzymatic breakdown. This chemical fixation hardens and firms the tissues, halting decomposition and inhibiting bacterial activity. Humectants help maintain tissue hydration, while dyes restore a natural complexion.
After arterial embalming, a cavity treatment is performed where internal body fluids and gases are removed from the thoracic and abdominal cavities using a specialized instrument called a trocar. A concentrated cavity fluid, also containing preservatives, is then injected into these areas to treat the internal organs. This comprehensive treatment ensures that both the circulatory system and internal cavities are preserved, contributing to the overall disinfection and temporary preservation of the body.