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Envision a Hollywood-style natural death: eyes gently shut, the person appearing to be in a serene slumber. In reality, the deceased often look far from this idealized image, with mouths agape and faces pressed awkwardly against pillows. It’s the embalmer’s role to transform this reality into something resembling Sleeping Beauty. Since embalming occurs behind closed doors, numerous myths and rumors have emerged about the process. With 15 years of experience as an embalmer, I aim to dispel some of these misconceptions.
10. Embalmers Do Not Remove All Your Organs
What happened to Grandpa’s heart? Where did Aunt Jane’s brain go? Mention embalming, and many people immediately think of ancient Egyptians, meticulously extracting brains through noses and preserving organs in jars. However, embalming has evolved significantly since then. While the Egyptians focused solely on preservation, modern embalming balances preservation with restoration. Removing organs might aid in preservation, but today’s methods are far less invasive and more refined.
If embalming were classified as a surgical procedure, it would fall under the minimally invasive category. All an embalmer requires is access to an artery, which necessitates only a small, inch-long incision. This misconception likely stems from confusion between embalming and autopsy, where organs are removed, examined, weighed, and occasionally sampled for testing. Autopsies are performed by pathologists, not embalmers. After an autopsy, organs are returned to the body before it is sent to the funeral home for embalming. However, this process changes the embalming approach, as the opportunity for minimal invasiveness is no longer available.
9. Corpses Cannot Sit Straight Up
We all have that one relative—perhaps a grandfather who once visited a morgue, likely during wartime—who claims to have witnessed a corpse suddenly sit upright. He’ll insist it happened, swearing it’s true.
Let’s conduct a simple experiment. Lie flat on the floor and attempt to sit up quickly using only your abdominal muscles. How did that go? Consider the coordination of muscles required for such a movement. Now, imagine trying to do it after death. Even if muscles could somehow move post-death, the likelihood of them working in perfect unison would be nothing short of miraculous.
“What about rigor mortis?” you might wonder. Muscles need energy to relax, a concept explained in detail in this physiology book. After death, the energy required to relax muscles is depleted and not replenished, leaving the muscles locked in their final position. Even more energy would be necessary to move or flex a muscle, and since no energy remains, movement is impossible. So, while the body may stiffen after death, it won’t be capable of any motion.
It’s worth noting that the moment of death isn’t as straightforward as it seems, and the relationship between heart and brain death can become somewhat unclear. In the nanoseconds following death, the brain might release its final signals, potentially causing a slight twitch or two.
8. Embalmers Do Not Sew Your Lips Shut
It’s a scene we’ve all seen in movies: a zombie rises from the ground, unable to speak until it cuts the strings holding its lips together. While you might feel at ease with your mouth closed, muscles are actively keeping your jaw shut. When these muscles relax, the mouth naturally falls open. To prevent an unflattering appearance, embalmers ensure the mouth stays closed.
There are several methods to achieve this. One common technique involves using small, sharp needles anchored into the bones of the upper and lower jaw, one on each side. These needles are connected to wires that can be twisted and tied to keep the mouth closed. While it may sound uncomfortable, it’s far less painful than a trip to the dentist.
If the bone structure poses challenges, a needle and suture might be used. This method doesn’t directly involve the lips but targets the muscle connecting the lips to the gums. The process is similar—attach to the upper and lower areas, then tie a secure knot.
7. Embalmers Do Not Suck Your Blood Out Like Vampires
While blood must indeed be removed to delay decomposition, it isn’t extracted by suction. Instead, it’s displaced. Since the circulatory system is inherently circular, injecting embalming fluid into it naturally forces the blood out.
However, the body contains more than just blood. Fluids and gases, which facilitate movement, can accumulate rapidly as bacteria begin to break down tissues. After arterial embalming, any remaining fluids or gases are removed through aspiration. A trocar, a long, specialized instrument, is inserted near the navel to extract these substances from organs and cavities, similar to a laparoscopic procedure.
The buildup of gas can exert pressure on certain parts of the body. When transporting a body, this gas may escape through the throat or the lower digestive tract, potentially producing sounds like gurgles, rattles, faint groans, or even noises reminiscent of post-mortem flatulence.
6. Hair and Nails Do Not Continue Growing After Death
If Grandpa passed away a decade ago, some might imagine he now resembles ZZ Top! If growth persisted unchecked, every unearthed mummy could be mistaken for Lady Godiva. Many claim Uncle Joe’s stubble appeared during his viewing, suggesting his beard was still growing, but is that really the case?
Not at all. After death, the body stops hydrating, leading to skin dehydration. As the skin dries, it retracts, creating the illusion of longer nails. Additionally, embalming fluid firms the skin, causing it to pull back from hair follicles. If a man was clean-shaven before embalming, his stubble might appear more pronounced afterward due to this tightening effect.
5. The Distinct Scent of Formaldehyde in the Morning
Formaldehyde isn’t found in trees, but it has a connection to ants. It’s similar to formic acid, which is naturally present in ant venom. The name itself derives from the Latin word for ant, formica.
You might recall that moment in biology class when you nervously retrieved a frog from a jar of formaldehyde, hesitating before making the first dissection cut. Perhaps you imagine large barrels filled with yellowish liquid sitting beside the embalming table.
Formaldehyde is actually a gas, and when used in liquid form, it’s called formalin. Some embalming solutions use glutaraldehyde, a milder alternative, instead of formalin.
Contrary to popular belief, formalin makes up only a small portion of embalming fluid. The fluid contains a variety of other components, such as dyes, surfactants, hydrating agents, and even fragrances to create a more pleasant environment for embalmers. The concentrated fluid is stored in 16 oz. bottles, which are then diluted with about a gallon of water to achieve the correct mixture.
4. The Blood Removed During Embalming Is Collected and Disposed of as Medical Waste
While many assume otherwise, the truth is that blood and other fluids removed during embalming are directed into the sewer system. Even the Ninja Turtles might be surprised by this fact.
The blood is treated with strong disinfectants during the process, ensuring it poses no risk to public health. Funeral homes are equipped with backflow valves in their plumbing systems to prevent sewage from flowing back into the facility. The waste is then processed at treatment plants, just like the waste from everyday household activities.
Before the era of funeral parlors, embalming was conducted in the deceased’s home. Embalmers carried portable kits containing jars of fluid and empty containers to collect blood. Despite the lack of modern plumbing, this method was surprisingly hygienic. Blood was collected using medical tubing and stored in sealed jars for proper disposal.
3. Will You See Me Naked and Cut My Clothes? That’s Unthinkable!
Yes, it’s true. While embalmers prioritize dignity, the embalming process can be messy—after all, they remove nearly all of your blood. Similar to a medical procedure, your private areas remain covered, but you won’t be fully clothed. Part of the preparation involves bathing and washing your hair to ensure you’re presentable for your final appearance.
Anyone who has undergone medical procedures eventually becomes less concerned with modesty. Doctors have seen it all countless times and are focused on more critical tasks. The same applies to embalmers: you won’t be the first or the last person on the table, and their focus is on the task at hand, not on idle observation.
Dressing someone for their final rest isn’t always straightforward. While clothing may occasionally need to be cut up the back for a proper fit, efforts are made to keep it intact. Some individuals wear shoes, while others do not. The choice of underwear is also a matter of personal preference.
2. Embalmers Do Not Break Your Legs If You’re Too Tall
People vary in size and shape, but caskets are standardized in design and limited in dimensions. Horror movies often suggest that if someone like Uncle Longlegs doesn’t fit, drastic measures like a club or chainsaw are needed. In reality, you might wonder how someone like Mr. Large McHuge could possibly fit into such a confined space.
Most people value their personal space. While alive, we seek as much room as possible. Even in a crowded elevator, which technically has enough space, the lack of personal area can feel uncomfortable. A casket doesn’t need to be spacious or allow for movement; its sole purpose is to hold the body. However, its compact size might evoke a sense of claustrophobia for the living.
Modern caskets are significantly larger than those from 60 years ago, partly due to changes in average body size. A standard wooden casket measures about 195 centimeters (6’4″) in length and 70 centimeters (28″) in width, while metal caskets are typically 200 centimeters (6’6″) long. Length is rarely an issue, as people tend to shrink with age and are often positioned on a pillow. Oversized caskets are also available for those who need them.
1. Embalming Is Not Mandatory for Burial
Mom always refused embalming but also rejected cremation. So, what’s the alternative? As society leans toward eco-friendly practices, the idea of burying a chemically treated body in a manufactured steel box doesn’t sit well with many. Some prefer to let nature handle things: “No cutting, no burning—just let the worms enjoy their game on my remains.”
No state or federal law mandates embalming, though most funeral homes require it for public viewings. If a body needs to be transported long distances by air, embalming is often recommended, but alternatives like dry ice and sealed containers can also be used.
Embalming isn’t an option in cases of advanced decomposition, severe burns, or unrecognizable injuries. Certain diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob’s and Ebola, also make embalming inadvisable.
+ Colors Of The Rainbow
While you might imagine the deceased as pale as a ghost, death is far more colorful. Once the heart stops and the brain ceases to function, livor mortis sets in. Without the heart pumping blood, gravity takes over, causing blood to settle toward the ground. This phenomenon, known as livor mortis (Latin for “the blue color of death”), results in a pale face if someone dies on their back, as blood pools along the backside. If they die face down, their face will turn red, eventually deepening to purple.
Determining death involves checking for a pulse, observing for breathing, and, for absolute certainty, waiting a few days. The natural decomposition process begins with a greenish hue appearing over the intestinal area. Bacteria in the intestines, no longer controlled by the body, start to multiply rapidly.
Over time, the blood vessels begin to break down, leading to a patterned bruising effect called marbling. Purple lines appear on the skin, tracing the paths of former veins as blood spreads beneath the surface.
Embalming slows these processes, allowing for a respectful viewing and burial. So, don’t forget to thank your embalmer for their work!
