Articles
June 1997
The Director - Features
Embalming the Anatomical Donor
Special considerations need to be taken when embalming for science.
Have you ever been asked to embalm a body that is being donated for scientific study? Many funeral directors have embalmed individuals who were organ and tissue donors, but they seldom embalm someone who has donated their entire body to science.
Unlike "traditional" embalming techniques, embalming for science is quite different. Embalming the Anatomical Donor, written by Cydney Griffith and Stephen Smith, takes a look at the special considerations necessary in preparing an anatomical donor. This educational article examines the embalming procedure for anatomical donors including how to prepare the body, select an injection site, prepare the embalming solution, handle drainage and make final preparations.
Griffith, an assistant professor and program director, and Smith, a teaching assistant, teach in the mortuary science and funeral service department of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
