The Embalming Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Embalming Process - Essay Example In this way, most of the blood is replaced by a fluid that will better preserve the corpse. This process usually requires about two gallons of the embalming fluid, which is a "mixture of formaldehyde and or other chemical-and water" ("What You Should Know"). The embalmer must ensure that the fluid circulates through the body, using both a mechanical pump and manually massaging the corpse to do so ("Embalming"). Then end effect is the presence of embalming fluid in the veins and arteries of the body. Having completed the arterial embalming, the next step for the embalmer is cavity embalming. During this step, "a tocar-a long, pointed, metal tube attached to a suction hose-is inserted close to the navel" ("What You Should Know"). The purpose of this is to remove some of the gases and liquids within the chest cavities. These cavities are then filled with a formaldehyde based fluid, again with the aim of preserving the insides of the corpse ("What You Should Know"). The third step in the embalming process is hypodermic embalming. This involves the "injection of embalming chemicals under the skin as needed" ("Embalming").