Clinical Anatomy 19:8–11 (2006)

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATION

Practical Light Embalming Technique for Use in the

Surgical Fresh Tissue Dissection Laboratory
STEPHEN D. ANDERSON*
Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky

Surgeons using a fresh tissue dissection laboratory need specimens with tissue color and
texture as close as possible to those of a living body. Completely unembalmed specimens
kept in a cooler remain in good condition only for a few days, and then decay rapidly.
Unembalmed specimens can be frozen for later use, but freezing harms their texture, and
decay is suspended only for as long as they remain frozen. Since 1998, we have used a
method of light embalming adapted from funeral home techniques, on over 250 cadavers
used in our fresh tissue dissection laboratory. Lightly embalmed cadavers can be kept in a
cooler for up to 6 weeks before use, with negligible loss of tissue quality and color. Once
dissection is begun, the cadavers remain in excellent condition, free from odor, for at least
two further weeks. Light embalming overcomes the practical problems seen with com-
pletely unembalmed specimens, avoids the use of freezing, and extends the range of activ-
ities that can be planned in the laboratory. This paper presents details of the light embalm-
ing technique. We assume that light embalming does not kill all transmissible pathogens.
Clin. Anat. 19:8–11, 2006. VC 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Key words: embalming; cadaver preservation; surgical tissue specimens

INTRODUCTION These authors successfully preserved tissue in an

Our fresh tissue dissection laboratory provides a
setting for basic scientists and clinicians to relearn
anatomy, give anatomical instruction, and to learn to
use new approaches, procedures, and equipments.
Its availability stimulates innovation in surgery, ana-
tomical research, and education. The usefulness of
fresh tissue dissection laboratories has been amply
demonstrated in a few medical centers. A severe
limitation for use of these facilities has been the lack
of a satisfactory method for short-term preservation.
For a fresh tissue laboratory to succeed, it must
provide users with cadaver tissue that looks and feels
like living tissue. When fresh tissue laboratories
were reintroduced in recent years, they often used
unembalmed human tissue. Unembalmed bodies
have serious disadvantages: they deteriorate rapidly,
and their possible associated health hazards are seen
by many as unacceptable. Freezing unembalmed tis-
sue helps only a little; it suspends the process of
decay, but only as long as the tissue stays frozen.
Recent advances in techniques to preserve cadaver
tissue include the notable work of Thiel (1992, 2002).
ideal state for surgical dissection; however, their tech-
niques require complex, specially formulated solu-
tions, a multi-stage embalming process, and they are
intended for long term preservation. We present here
our experience with a simple, one-stage technique for
‘‘light embalming’’ that has proved satisfactory for
short-term preservation. The technique uses inexpen-
sive materials that are readily available.
BACKGROUND
The Fresh Tissue Laboratory at the University of
Louisville is an extension of the Department of Ana-
tomical Sciences and Neurobiology’s body bequea-
*Correspondence to: Stephen D. Anderson, LE, LFD, University
of Louisville, School of Medicine, Department of Anatomical
Sciences and Neurobiology, HSC-A 916, Louisville, KY 40292.
E-mail: sdande02@gwise.louisville.edu
Received 13 November 2003; Revised 2 June 2005; Accepted 20
June 2005
Published online 14 November 2005 in Wiley InterScience (www.
interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ca.20216

V
C 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

thal program. The bodies received into this program
are treated in one of the two ways: some are
embalmed fully for traditional gross anatomy courses;
others are used in the Fresh Tissue Laboratory.
Until the adoption of our light embalming techni-
que, bodies used in the Fresh Tissue Laboratory were
unembalmed. Typically, a body was put into use
within 2 days after arrival and kept in use for
2
weeks. The abdominal viscera were removed as early
as possible to avoid putrefaction. The bodies were
maintained under refrigeration at 48C except when in
use. The condition of the unembalmed tissues was
excellent for only the first few days. The rate of decay
varied with the condition of the body on arrival and
the time it was unrefrigerated while in use. By the
end of 2 weeks, the unembalmed tissues were soft-
ened, discolored, and had an offensive odor.
Because of the time constraints imposed by tissue
deterioration, users of the laboratory had to await the
arrival of a new body, then find time with short
notice to do their work. Some potential users
avoided the laboratory because of its odor or because
of the perceived risk of handling unembalmed tis-
sue. The only way to accumulate tissue for major
planned activities was by freezing, with its attendant
disadvantages. Instructional sessions could only be
scheduled tentatively and were often cancelled or
postponed owing to a lack of tissue. Despite these
constraints, many surgical residents and faculty took
advantage of the educational benefits of the labora-
tory, and helped make it a valued part of the medi-
cal school’s training programs.
Our use of unembalmed tissue was brought to an
end by a chance event. In 1998, we received a body
that had already been embalmed at a funeral home.
Because it was unsuitable for full embalming, it was
directed to the Fresh Tissue Laboratory. There we
found that the tissues were in a surprisingly good
condition for surgical dissection and that their good
condition was maintained for several weeks without
developing a bad odor. We learned that the body
had been prepared using the dilute proprietary
embalming solutions normally used by funeral
homes for short-term preservation and employing a
low volume under low pressure. Using the same
chemicals and techniques, we developed empirically
a practical light embalming technique. Since 1998,
most bodies used in the Fresh Tissue Laboratory
have been prepared using this technique.
LIGHT EMBALMING TECHNIQUE
Light embalming differs from typical anatomical
embalming in three ways: the embalming fluid is
Light Embalming Technique 9
weaker, a smaller volume is used, and the fluid is not
allowed to accumulate in the body under pressure.
The solutions we use are those developed by
chemical suppliers for use in funeral homes. Each
manufacturer markets solutions that are intended to
be used together. These include an embalming
chemical, preinjection chemical, and a dye. We ini-
tially used a glutaraldehyde-based embalming chem-
ical. For economic reasons, we now use one that is
formaldehyde-based. Both fixatives give equally
good results.
If the body has been kept in refrigeration, it
should be removed at least 1 hr before light
embalming is to begin. The femoral artery and vein
are exposed and the artery is opened and canulated.
The arterial canula is connected to a Portaboy1
embalming machine set to a pressure of 750 mm Hg
(15 C actual pressure) and a flow rate of 800 ml
(25 oz) per minute. A preinjection fluid, consisting
of Dodge Metaflow1 diluted 1:1 with cool water, is
injected. For a body of average size, 68–82 kg (150–
180 lbs), we use 475 ml (16 oz) of preinjection fluid.
This fluid is allowed to remain in the body for
15 min before the formaldehyde-based embalming
solution is injected.
The embalming fluid is injected using the same
embalming machine settings as for injecting the pre-
injection chemical. The embalming fluid consists of
475 ml (16 oz) of Dodge Metasyn1 diluted 1:16 with
cool water. The femoral vein is opened and drainage
forceps are inserted after injection of the fluid has
begun. During injection, the femoral vein is kept
open to allow free drainage. Clots appearing at the
venous opening are removed to encourage free
drainage. An arterial dye, consisting of Dodge Icter-
ine Regular1, formulated for use with the embalm-
ing fluid, is added at 25–50 ml per 8 l of embalming
fluid. Eight liters (2 gal) of total solution are suffi-
cient to lightly embalm an average body, 68–82 kg
(150–180 lbs), thoroughly. A very small body,
< 50 kg (<110 lbs), could be overembalmed by 8 l
(2 gal) of embalming solution. It is better to err on
the side of less total solution for a smaller body.
Edematous bodies present the problem of increased
secondary dilution of the arterial fluid and may
require a higher concentration of formaldehyde, with
no increase in the volume of the embalming fluid.
The formula for calculating fluid strength and the
volume of the embalming fluid is given here (Strub
and Frederick, 1989):
C 3 V ¼ C0 3 V 0
where C, Strength of the concentrated fluid (com-
mercial index or formaldehyde percentage of the
10 Anderson
embalming fluid in the bottle); V, Volume in ounces
of the concentrated fluid (commercial volume of the
embalming fluid in the bottle); C0 , Strength of the
diluted fluid (the dilute percentage of the embalm-
ing solution in the tank of the embalming machine);
V0 , Volume in ounces of the diluted fluid (the
diluted volume of the embalming fluid in the tank
of the embalming machine).
Injection of the embalming fluid takes
20–
30 min. During injection, careful external massage of
the body, particularly the upper and lower extrem-
ities, encourages perfusion. The easiest method for
external massage involves using liquid soap and
applying it to the area to be massaged. The soap
acts as a lubricant to prevent any external damage to
the tissues during the procedure. Simply rub the
extremity, distal to proximal, with the palm of your
hand. Very light pressure is required.
After fluid injection is complete and venous drain-
age has ceased, the light embalming process is com-
plete. No special treatment is applied to the viscera,
the brain, or the body cavities. No external embalm-
ing treatment is applied to the body. Bodies pre-
served by light embalming are kept in a cooler at
48C prior to use. They are covered loosely with a
plastic sheet, but not wrapped.
RESULTS
During a 6-year-period we have prepared more
than 250 bodies using our light embalming techni-
que. Approximately 75% of these were used within
1 week of light embalming; 25% were stored at
48C for up to 6 weeks prior to use. When dissec-
tion is begun within 2 weeks of light embalming,
the condition of the tissue is close to that found in
the living body, both in color and texture. The
abdominal cavity has no offensive odor, and the
color of the abdominal viscera is well preserved.
Dissected areas that are left exposed dry and
darken rapidly, but do not putrefy. Drying and
darkening can be delayed for several days by
applying thin plastic wrapping material to the
specimen. After 2 weeks, gradual fading of muscle
color begins throughout the body, starting in the
most superficial muscles and progressing inward.
This color change does not affect the handling
quality of the tissue, which remains satisfactory for
at least 6 weeks.
Lightly embalmed bodies are seldom kept unused
for as long as 6 weeks, primarily because of the con-
stant demand for specimens. By 6 weeks, we have
occasionally seen areas of mold beginning to appear
on exposed mucosal areas and on areas of damaged
skin. It is possible that with appropriate preventive
care of these areas, the period of preservation could
be prolonged further.
DISCUSSION
Practical Benefits
Light embalming extends the period during
which a body can be used for procedures that sim-
ulate conditions at surgery. Individual users benefit
from the fact that work can be planned with less
haste and can be performed under more pleasant
conditions than is the case with unembalmed tis-
sue. The organization of the laboratory is greatly
facilitated. Bodies can be stored for several weeks
prior to use, ensuring a more regular supply and
allowing events to be planned in advance with
more certainty. Lightly embalmed bodies consis-
tently have proved satisfactory for soft-tissue work
ranging from routine regional dissections to
research studies on nerves and blood vessels down
to 0.1 mm in diameter. The bodies are used regu-
larly for advanced trauma life support courses and
for endoscopic procedures including arthroscopy,
pelvic laparoscopy, and sinus endoscopy. The ben-
efit of this simple, short-term preservation tech-
nique is greatest in a self-contained setting such as
our own in which the willed-body program is
designed to meet the ongoing needs of the institu-
tion with neither importation or exportation of
human cadaver tissue.
Health Hazards
When institutions discuss whether to set up a
fresh tissue dissection laboratory, the potential
health hazard associated with using unembalmed
tissue is a major concern. We have no data regard-
ing the antimicrobial effects of light embalming.
Our practice is on the basis of the assumption that
it is not fully anti-microbial. Our policy and expe-
rience with regard to the risk of disease transmis-
sion has dictated our procedural guidelines. Users
are told that it is their individual responsibility to
use the same precautions against the transmission
of disease as are observed when working with the
living. Between its opening in 1981 and the adop-
tion of light embalming in 1998, our Fresh Tissue
Laboratory used over 500 unembalmed bodies.
Between 8 and 25 individual users worked on each
body. During this period we recorded no known
instance of transmission of bacterial or viral dis-
ease from the dead to the living. From the adop-
tion of light embalming in 1998 to the present,

more than 250 bodies have been prepared and
used in this way. The same precautions have been
observed. There has been no known instance of
disease transmission. No serological screening is
carried out on the bodies in our program, but
bodies are rejected if the recorded or apparent
cause of death was sepsis or hepatitis. Serology
testing is certainly advised, and encouraged, to
rule out any major transmissible diseases.
Light Embalming Technique 11
REFERENCES
Mayer RG. 1996. Embalming history, theory, and practice.
2nd Ed. Stamford: Appleton & Lange. p 131.
Strub CG, Frederick LG. 1989. Principles and practice of embalm-
ing. 5th Ed. Dallas: Professional Training Schools. p 144.
Thiel W. 1992. The preservation of the whole corpse with
natural color. Ann Anat 174:185–195.
Thiel W. 2002. Supplement to the conservation of the entire
cadaver according to W. Thiel. Ann Anat 184:267–269.