Massachusetts Funeral Director Practice Exam

What procedure is utilized to preserve a body after death using chemicals?

1. Autopsy

2. Embalming

3. Refrigeration

4. Cremation

The correct answer is: Embalming

Embalming is the correct procedure used to preserve a body after death using chemicals. This process typically involves the injection of embalming fluid, which is a combination of formaldehyde, methanol, and other chemicals, into the body's vascular system. The primary purpose of embalming is to delay decomposition and maintain the body in a presentable condition for viewing and funeral services. This is particularly important in cultures where viewing the deceased is a common practice. Embalming also helps to sanitize the body, making it safer for handling by funeral professionals and loved ones. The other options, although related to the management of a deceased individual, do not serve the specific purpose of chemical preservation. Autopsy involves the examination of a body to determine the cause of death, refrigeration slows decomposition by cooling the body without chemical intervention, and cremation is a process that reduces the body to ashes through incineration. Each of these options represents different practices that do not achieve the preservation of the body in the same way that embalming does.