Mortuary Mnemonics Podcast
1) The Gout
When you think gout, think TOE, because that’s where it loves to start. The big toe joint, or first metatarsophalangeal joint, is the classic site for that sharp, fiery pain that wakes people at night...Show More
2) Aortic A-B-C-s
“ABCs of the Aortic Arch.”A is for Aortic Arch – the main curve of theaorta.From there, the branches go in this order:B – Brachiocephalic arteryC – Left Common carotid arteryS – Left Subclavian artery...Show More
3) F.E.R.M.
Rigor mortis, the stiffening of muscles after death due to fluctuation in ATP levels. Rigor mortis can make it challenging to position a body for preparation. But don’t worry—our mnemonic, F.E.R.M., ...Show More
4) Phocomelia
Phocomelia s a  congenital condition that involves malformations of human arms and legs that is most often described as having flipper-like appendages. However, it can manifest in other regions of the...Show More
5) HemoPTysis
Hemoptysis Here’s a mnemonic that I overheard in class one day. It’s for the word Hemoptysis. Hemoptysis is the coughing up or spitting  of blood from one’s lungs. It can be a sign of a serious medica...Show More
6) Soupination
Here’s a quick mnemonic. It’s one of those anatomical directional terms.  These are important for communicating with other professionals as they help to remove ambiguity. Today’s term is supination,...Show More
7) Proenzymes
As you are most certainly aware, one of the goals of embalming is temporary preservation. This accomplished is in part by stabilizing proteins. Without getting into the chemical pathways this stabili...Show More
8) Tendon or Ligament
Tendons and ligaments are confusing. Do tendons connect bone to muscle? Muscle to muscle? Do ligaments connect bone to muscle? Okay so here is where I lean into structures that I am confident about. ...Show More
9) Ate Essential Amino Acids
Let’s take a moment to talk about amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Embalming can, in part, be defined as the use of chemicals to stabilize proteins. That being said, the ...Show More
10) Hypertrophy
Pathology has a lot of vocabulary that sounds very similar. For example, hypertrophy, hyperplasia and aplasia. These similar sounding words can get confusing. Knowing the pre-fix, suffix, and root ...Show More