Embalming is best described as the process of preserving a body by

• A. Preserving tissue by injecting chemicals
• B. Cooling the body to near freezing
• C. Cleaning the body with water
• D. Removing organs

Answer: (A)

Embalming is about preserving tissues by injecting preservative chemicals into the body's arterial system so the tissues are fixed, bacteria are inactivated, and the body’s form and odor are better controlled for viewing. The chemical solutions—usually formaldehyde-based preservatives with humectants and disinfectants—cross-link proteins and slow decomposition, distributed through arteries with drainage of fluids. This chemical fixation is what distinguishes embalming from simple cooling, which only slows decay temporarily, or from cleaning with water or removing organs, which are preparing steps or procedures not aimed at chemical preservation.