FSE 1105 - Thanatochemistry

Health Science Department

Credit(s): 2
Contact Hours: 32
Effective Term Spring 2024 (630)

Requisites

(Admission to Funeral Services (Associate in Science) (FUNSE-AS) and
Pre- or Co-requisite FSE 1150 with a minimum grade of C) or
Permission of the Program

Course Description

This course is a survey of the basic principles of disinfection and preservation as they relate to embalming. Especially emphasized are the chemical principles involved in sanitation, disinfection, and embalming practice. The development and use of personal, professional, and community sanitation practices is addressed as well as use and precautions related to potentially harmful chemicals that are currently used in the field of funeral service.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will know the essential characteristics of autolysis, hydrolysis, fermentation, and putrefaction in the area of decomposition of dead human body by:
    1. identifying final hydrolysis products of carbohydrates.
    2. explaining saponification and it’s properties.
    3. explaining autolysis of proteins.
    4. explaining the differences in fermentation and putrefaction of dead human beings.
  2. The student will identify representative chemicals used in the preparation room and give their respective functions by:
    1. explaining preservative chemicals.
    2. listing the chemicals found in arterial, cavity, and accessory fluids.
    3. differentiating chemicals according to manufacturer and their properties.
    4. listing modifying agents found in embalming fluids.
    5. listing humectants, buffers, water conditioners, surfactants, dyes, deodorants, and vehicles used in embalming fluids.
  3. The student will be able to evaluate the correct solution for embalming by:
    1. figuring the index of embalming solutions.
    2. selecting the specific embalming chemicals determine by the conditions of the case.
    3. explaining the properties of HCHO.
    4. defining formalin.
  4. The student will list the potentially harmful chemicals used in the preparation room, and the precautions to be taken with each by:
    1. defining poison, toxin, LD-50, and MLD.
    2. giving examples of potentially harmful chemicals found in the preparation room.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will, with a minimum of 75 percent accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual classroom instructors.

History of Changes

C&I 3/26/96; DBT 4/17/96 Effective Session I, 1996-97 3 Year Review 2000-01. Flex Delivery 2001. 3 Year Review 2004. 3 Year Review 2008. C&I Approval: 07/12/2012, BOT Approval: 08/21/2012, Effective Term: Spring 2013 (465). C&I Approval: 02/09/2017, BOT Approval: 03/21/2017, Effective Term: Fall 2017 (535). C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Spring 2018 (540).
C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Spring 2024 (630)

Related Programs

  1. Funeral Services (FUNSE-AS) (640) (Active)