Embalming is a procedure designed to temporarily preserve a body after death. This process aims to delay the natural decomposition process and present the deceased in a peaceful, natural appearance for viewing. The practice allows families and friends to gather, mourn, and pay their respects during funeral services.
Understanding Embalming
The embalming process involves two phases: arterial embalming and cavity embalming. Arterial embalming introduces a preservative chemical solution into the circulatory system. Embalming fluid is injected into an artery while blood is drained from a vein.
Following arterial embalming, cavity embalming addresses the internal organs within the body’s torso. This step prepares the internal spaces, including the chest and abdominal cavities, for preservation. The process targets the contents of these areas to further inhibit decomposition.
Managing Internal Organs
Internal organs are not removed from the body during standard embalming. Instead, embalmers use a long, hollow instrument called a trocar. This tool is inserted through a small incision to access abdominal and thoracic cavities.
The trocar punctures hollow organs like the stomach, intestines, and bladder, allowing contents, including fluids and gases, to be aspirated. After aspiration, a concentrated preservative chemical, known as cavity fluid, is injected into these cavities. This fluid saturates remaining organ tissues, treating them directly. The treated organs remain within the body cavity, ensuring their preservation.
Why Organ Treatment is Done
Treating the internal organs is an important step in the embalming process because these tissues are particularly susceptible to rapid decomposition. Organs contain high levels of moisture and bacteria, which can accelerate the breakdown of the body. The cavity treatment thoroughly preserves these internal areas, helping to maintain the body’s overall integrity.
This process also helps prevent the formation of gases within the body cavities, which can lead to bloating or distension. It also reduces the likelihood of purge, the expulsion of fluids or gases from bodily orifices, ensuring a more peaceful appearance for viewing. Addressing the internal organs contributes to both sanitation and long-term preservation.
Different Embalming Scenarios
In specific situations, the handling of organs during embalming may vary. For instance, if an individual has been an organ donor, certain organs are removed by medical professionals prior to the embalming process. Even in these cases, embalmers will still treat the remaining cavity areas to ensure adequate preservation of the body.
There are also instances where full embalming, including organ treatment, is not chosen. Immediate burial or cremation, as well as certain religious beliefs, may lead families to opt for alternatives where embalming is not performed. In these scenarios, other methods like refrigeration might be used for temporary preservation.