Above-ground burials
Burials in which the casket or urn is placed above ground, often in a mausoleum or columbarium.
- Mortuary Science: Entombment vs. Interment (Burial Methods)
- Columbarium vs. Mausoleum in Mortuary Science (Final Resting Options)
- Mausoleum vs. Crypt in Mortuary Science (Types of Burial)
- Mortuary Science: Grave vs. Tomb (Resting Place Terminology)
Acceptance
The process of coming to terms with and embracing a difficult or challenging situation.
- Understanding Grief Counseling vs. Bereavement Support (Help Available)
- Understanding Mourning vs. Grieving (Emotional Journey)
- How Can I Develop My Grief Counseling Skills Through Active Listening? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Burial vs. Interment (Clarifying Terms)
- What Does A Mortician Do? (10 Important Questions Answered)
Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT)
A type of therapy that helps individuals accept difficult emotions and commit to taking action towards their values and goals.
Accessibility
The ease of access or availability of resources, information, or services to individuals with disabilities or limitations.
- Understanding Direct Cremation vs. Traditional Cremation (Service Options)
- Columbarium vs. Mausoleum in Mortuary Science (Final Resting Options)
- Mortuary Science: Burial vs. Interment (Clarifying Terms)
- How Can Morticians Ensure Accurate Documentation of Autopsies Results? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Urn vs. Cremation Jewelry (Ashes Storage)
Accuracy and completeness of information
The degree to which information is correct and comprehensive.
Achievements and accomplishments
Personal or professional successes and accomplishments.
- Mortuary Science: Death Certificate vs. Death Notice (Document Differences)
- What Are Some Unique Ways to Personalize a Coffin? (10 Important Questions Answered)
Acknowledging achievements and contributions
Recognizing and honoring a deceased person’s accomplishments and contributions to their community or society.
Actin and myosin filaments
Proteins that are involved in muscle contraction and movement.
Active decay stage
The stage of decomposition in which the body begins to break down and release gases.
Active listening
A communication technique that involves fully focusing on and understanding the speaker’s message.
- How Can I Develop My Grief Counseling Skills Through Active Listening? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Understanding Grief Counseling vs. Bereavement Support (Help Available)
- What Strategies Can Morticians Use to Facilitate Respectful Interactions? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- What Training Do I Need To Become A Mortician? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- What Skills Will I Learn During a Mortuary Apprenticeship Program? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- What Types of Questions are on Funeral Director Licensing Exams? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- What Are The Best Career Paths For Morticians? (10 Important Questions Answered)
Advance directives
Legal documents that outline an individual’s wishes for medical treatment and end-of-life care.
- Understanding Preneed vs. At-Need (Planning Ahead)
- Mortuary Science: Last Rites vs. Extreme Unction (Sacramental Services)
- Mortuary Science: Funeral Home vs. Mortuary (Facility Differences)
- Estate vs. Inheritance in Mortuary Science (Legalities Defined)
- Mortuary Science: Requiem vs. Dirge (Music for Mourning)
- What Are the Requirements of the State-Mandated Curriculum for Funeral Directors? (10 Important Questions Answered)
Aesthetics
The visual appearance and design of caskets, urns, and other funeral-related items.
- Casket vs. Coffin in Mortuary Science (Shape Matters)
- Mortuary Science: Urn vs. Cremation Jewelry (Ashes Storage)
- Understanding Funeral Sprays vs. Wreaths (Floral Choices)
- Cenotaph vs. Tombstone in Mortuary Science (Monument Types)
Aftercare Support
Services provided to families and loved ones after a funeral or memorial service, including grief counseling and support groups.
Aftercare support resources available for grieving families
Aftercare support services
Services provided to the family members of a deceased person after the funeral or memorial service, such as grief counseling or support groups.
Afterlife beliefs
Beliefs about what happens to a person’s soul or spirit after death, which may vary across cultures and religions.
Air pollution
- Understanding Funeral Pyre vs. Cremation (Fire-Based Practices)
- Mortuary Science: Embalming vs. Cremation (Understanding Processes)
Air scattering
The scattering of cremated remains into the air, often as part of a memorial service.
Alkaline hydrolysis
- Understanding Funeral Pyre vs. Cremation (Fire-Based Practices)
- Understanding Thanatology vs. Mortuary Science (Study of Death)
Altered states of consciousness
A change in the normal functioning of the brain, resulting in altered perceptions, thoughts, and behaviors.
Alternative methods for preserving or preparing a body for cremation
Methods other than embalming that can be used to prepare a deceased person’s body for cremation, such as refrigeration or dry ice.
Alternative methods of disposition
Ambrotype process
A photographic process used in the 19th century to create a positive image on a glass plate.
Ammonia accumulation
The buildup of ammonia in the body, which can be toxic and lead to health problems.
Anaerobic metabolism
The process by which cells produce energy without the use of oxygen.
Analytical chemistry
The branch of chemistry that focuses on the identification and quantification of chemical compounds and elements.
Anatomy and physiology
The study of the structure and function of living organisms, including humans and animals.
- How Can I Become a Certified Embalmer Through an Apprenticeship Program? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- How Can I Learn Facial Reconstruction Techniques as a Mortician? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- What Training Do I Need To Become A Mortician? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- How Do I Obtain Embalming Certification? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- What Are the Requirements of the State-Mandated Curriculum for Funeral Directors? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- How Can I Gain Clinical Experience as a Mortuary Technician? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- How Can Morticians Ensure Accurate Documentation of Autopsies Results? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- What Resources Are Available to Help Pass Professional Examinations for Embalming Certification? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- How Can I Gain Professional Experience for Embalming Certification? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- Understanding Embalmer vs. Mortician (Job Specifications)
- What Are The Best Career Paths For Morticians? (10 Important Questions Answered)
Ancestor veneration
The practice of honoring and respecting deceased ancestors, often through rituals and offerings.
Ancestral veneration
The practice of honoring and remembering one’s ancestors, often through rituals or ceremonies.
Anger
A strong emotion characterized by feelings of hostility, frustration, and irritation.
- Understanding Grief Counseling vs. Bereavement Support (Help Available)
- Understanding Mourning vs. Grieving (Emotional Journey)
- Mortuary Science: Burial vs. Interment (Clarifying Terms)
Animal health
The overall well-being and condition of animals, including their physical, mental, and emotional health.
Animal health monitoring
The process of observing and assessing the health of animals, including pets and livestock.
Animal pathology
The study of diseases and conditions that affect animals, including those used in mortuary science.
Animal welfare
The ethical treatment of animals used in mortuary science, such as for research or education.
Anointing of the Sick
A religious sacrament in which a priest anoints a sick or dying person with oil and offers prayers for healing.
Anthropology examination
The study of human remains to determine identity, cause of death, and other information.
Anticipatory grief
The grief experienced before the actual death of a loved one.
- Understanding Thanatology vs. Mortuary Science (Study of Death)
- Mortuary Science: Epitaph vs. Eulogy (Honoring the Deceased)
- Understanding Mourning vs. Grieving (Emotional Journey)
Aquamation (water cremation)
A method of cremation that uses water and alkaline solutions instead of fire.
Arranging funeral services
The process of planning and organizing funeral services for a deceased individual.
- Mortuary Science: Funeral Home vs. Mortuary (Facility Differences)
- Understanding Embalmer vs. Mortician (Job Specifications)
Arterial injection
The injection of embalming fluid into the arterial system of the deceased.
- Mortuary Science: Death Mask vs. Memorial Portrait (Remembrance Items)
- How Can I Become a Certified Embalmer Through an Apprenticeship Program? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- How Does Embalming Affect the Appearance of a Deceased Person? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Shroud vs. Pall (Funeral Fabrics)
Art Therapy
A form of therapy that uses art-making to promote emotional healing and self-expression.
Ashes
See “Ashes or Cremated Remains.”
- Interment vs. Inurnment in Mortuary Science (Final Resting Place)
- Understanding Direct Cremation vs. Traditional Cremation (Service Options)
- Mortuary Science: Embalming vs. Cremation (Understanding Processes)
- Mortuary Science: Urn vs. Cremation Jewelry (Ashes Storage)
- Mortuary Science: Grave vs. Tomb (Resting Place Terminology)
- Mortuary Science: Funeral vs. Memorial Service (Event Timing)
- Understanding Embalmer vs. Mortician (Job Specifications)
- Mortuary Science: Burial vs. Interment (Clarifying Terms)
- How Does Interment Function? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Eulogy vs. Obituary (Honoring the Deceased)
- Mortuary Science: Epitaph vs. Eulogy (Honoring the Deceased)
- Understanding Funeral Pyre vs. Cremation (Fire-Based Practices)
- Mortuary Science: Decedent vs. Deceased (Terminology Explained)
- Mausoleum vs. Crypt in Mortuary Science (Types of Burial)
- What Types of Questions are on Funeral Director Licensing Exams? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- What Are the Requirements of the State-Mandated Curriculum for Funeral Directors? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Understanding Preneed vs. At-Need (Planning Ahead)
- Understanding Mortician vs. Funeral Director (Roles Defined)
- What Regulations Must Be Followed When Performing a Burial as a Funeral Director? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Funeral Home vs. Mortuary (Facility Differences)
- Casket vs. Coffin in Mortuary Science (Shape Matters)
- Understanding Thanatology vs. Mortuary Science (Study of Death)
- What Does A Mortician Do? (10 Important Questions Answered)
Ashes disposal
The process of disposing of a deceased body’s ashes.
Ashes Disposition
The final resting place or method of disposal of a deceased body’s ashes.
Ashes from cremation
The remains of a deceased body after cremation.
Ashes or cremains
See “Ashes or Cremated Remains.”
Ashes storage
The storage of a deceased person’s ashes in an urn or other container.
Ash scattering
The act of scattering a deceased body’s ashes.
- Interment vs. Inurnment in Mortuary Science (Final Resting Place)
- Understanding Embalmer vs. Mortician (Job Specifications)
- Understanding Funeral Pyre vs. Cremation (Fire-Based Practices)
Ash scattering ceremony
A ceremony held to scatter a deceased body’s ashes.
- Understanding Direct Cremation vs. Traditional Cremation (Service Options)
- Mortuary Science: Death Mask vs. Memorial Portrait (Remembrance Items)
- Cenotaph vs. Tombstone in Mortuary Science (Monument Types)
Ash scattering laws
Laws and regulations regarding the scattering of a deceased person’s ashes.
Asset protection
Measures taken to protect the assets and property of a funeral home or mortician.
ATP depletion
The depletion of adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that provides energy to cells, in deceased bodies.
Attention
The act of focusing on and attending to specific tasks and details during funeral arrangements.
- Understanding Wake vs. Viewing (Event Definitions)
- Mortuary Science: Death Certificate vs. Death Notice (Document Differences)
- How Can I Establish a Positive Reputation as an Undertaker? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Funeral vs. Memorial Service (Event Timing)
- Understanding Funeral Mass vs. Memorial Service (Religious Considerations)
- Wake vs Funeral in Mortuary Science (Event Order)
Attention to detail
The ability to notice and attend to small details in funeral arrangements.
- Understanding Mortician vs. Funeral Director (Roles Defined)
- How Can I Establish a Positive Reputation as an Undertaker? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- How Can I Learn Facial Reconstruction Techniques as a Mortician? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- How Much Do Morticians Make? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Burial vs. Interment (Clarifying Terms)
- Mortuary Science: Decedent vs. Deceased (Terminology Explained)
- Mortuary Science: Funeral Home vs. Mortuary (Facility Differences)
- Understanding Coroner vs. Medical Examiner (Role Clarification)
- What Are The Best Career Paths For Morticians? (10 Important Questions Answered)
Authorization form
A legal document that grants permission for funeral arrangements and disposition of remains.
Autolysis
The breakdown of cells and tissues in a deceased body due to the release of digestive enzymes.
- Mortuary Science: Rigor Mortis vs. Livor Mortis (Postmortem Changes)
- Mortuary Science: Autopsy vs. Necropsy (Purpose Clarified)
- How Does Embalming Affect the Appearance of a Deceased Person? (10 Important Questions Answered)
Autolysis Reaction
The process of self-digestion of cells and tissues after death.
Autopsy
Autopsy report – A document that provides information about the cause, manner, time, date, and place of death after an autopsy.
- What Safety Precautions Should Be Taken When Performing an Autopsy? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Autopsy vs. Necropsy (Purpose Clarified)
- How Can Morticians Ensure Accurate Documentation of Autopsies Results? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- Understanding Coroner vs. Medical Examiner (Role Clarification)
- What Does A Mortician Do? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Exhumation vs. Disinterment (Grave Disturbance)
- What Skills Will I Learn During a Mortuary Apprenticeship Program? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Embalming vs. Cremation (Understanding Processes)
- How Can I Become a Certified Embalmer Through an Apprenticeship Program? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- How is Arterial Embalming Performed? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- How Can I Learn Facial Reconstruction Techniques as a Mortician? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Decedent vs. Deceased (Terminology Explained)
- Mortuary Science: Funeral Home vs. Mortuary (Facility Differences)
- Understanding Direct Cremation vs. Traditional Cremation (Service Options)
- What Training Do I Need To Become A Mortician? (10 Important Questions Answered)
Autopsy/Post-Mortem Examination
Autopsy Report – A document that provides information about the cause, manner, time, date, and place of death after an autopsy.
Autopsy Procedures
Autopsy – A medical examination performed on a deceased individual to determine the cause of death.
Autopsy process
Autopsy- Examination performed on a corpse to determine cause (s)of death.
- Understanding Coroner vs. Medical Examiner (Role Clarification)
- What Safety Precautions Should Be Taken When Performing an Autopsy? (10 Important Questions Answered)
Autopsy report
Autopsy Procedures – The specific techniques and methods used during an autopsy to examine the body.
- Mortuary Science: Decedent vs. Deceased (Terminology Explained)
- What Information is Required on a Death Certificate? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- How Can Morticians Ensure Accurate Documentation of Autopsies Results? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- Understanding Embalmer vs. Mortician (Job Specifications)
- What Regulations Must Be Followed When Performing a Burial as a Funeral Director? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Understanding Coroner vs. Medical Examiner (Role Clarification)
Avoidance behaviors
Autopsy/Post-Mortem Examination – A medical examination performed on a deceased individual to determine the cause of death.
Awareness
Avoidance behaviors – Coping mechanisms where individuals avoid confronting their grief and loss.
- Understanding Wake vs. Viewing (Event Definitions)
- Understanding Mourning vs. Grieving (Emotional Journey)
- How Can I Increase My Undertaker’s Earnings? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- How Can I Learn Facial Reconstruction Techniques as a Mortician? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- How Can I Make More Money as a Funeral Director? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- Mortuary Science: Death Certificate vs. Death Notice (Document Differences)
- How Can I Gain Professional Experience for Embalming Certification? (9 Simple Questions Answered)
- How Can I Ensure Compliance with Professional Standards in the Death Care Industry? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- What Are the Requirements of the State-Mandated Curriculum for Funeral Directors? (10 Important Questions Answered)
- Understanding Grief Counseling vs. Bereavement Support (Help Available)
Awareness discrepancy
Awareness – Understanding and knowledge of grief and loss.