Mortuary Mnemonics
Episodes
HONC
28 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Podcast Title: HONC – The Shortcut to Bonding PatternsIn embalming chemistry, we only need to know severalelements and how they interact with each o...
The Gout
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
Aortic A-B-C-s
12 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“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 arte...
F.E.R.M.
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 pr...
Phocomelia
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Phocomelia s a congenital condition that involves malformations of human arms and legs that is most often described as having flipper-like appendage...
HemoPTysis
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 b...
Soupination
30 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Here’s a quick mnemonic. It’s one of those anatomical directional terms. These are important for communicating with other professionals ...
Proenzymes
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As you are most certainly aware, one of the goals of embalming is temporary preservation. This accomplished is in part by stabilizing proteins. With...
Tendon or Ligament
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tendons and ligaments are confusing. Do tendons connect bone to muscle? Muscle to muscle? Do ligaments connect bone to muscle? Okay so here is whe...
Ate Essential Amino Acids
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ch...
Hypertrophy
17 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pathology has a lot of vocabulary that sounds very similar. For example, hypertrophy, hyperplasia and aplasia. These similar sounding words can g...
Escutcheon
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s mnemonic covers a casket part. It’s helpful if you are familiar with some romance languages. So, there are a lot of casket parts that y...
Richard Burr
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Richard Burr was a civil war embalmer. You’re probably familiar with the photograph of him at his tent embalming with no PPE. We credit him with...
Phrenic fun time
22 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The diaphragm is a dome shaped muscular partition between the thorax and the abdomen in mammals. It has a functional role in breathing. Like all m...
Penia
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Erythrocytopenia, leukocytopenia, leukopenia, osteopenia these are some of the terms you will come across in your Funeral Service Pathology class. ...
Spina Bifida
08 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the conditions that you need to know for your career and the NBE is Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a condition that affects the spine, it’...
Medial Malleolus
11 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hey there Funeral Service People, here’s a quick mnemonic for your vascular guides. As you know the vascular guides are important for locating and i...
T-Oxalates
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s mnemonic covers anticoagulants. Its widely understood that aldehydes function best with modifying agents. Modifying agents are chemicals add...
Cocci and Couscous
21 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re a Funeral Service Education student, then you need be familiar with Microbiology. Microbiology is one of those subjects that require a lot...
Algor Mortis
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Postmortem chemical and physical changes can be so difficult to remember. Today’s mnemonic incorporates a Al Gore known for his role in the elucidat...
Genicular Arteries
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A two for one! Today we bridge anatomy and ceremonies. From your ceremonies class you probably learned the term genuflect. This refers to lowering of ...
The Postmortem pH shift
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After death the body goes through many chemical and physical changes. One of these is termed the postmortem pH shift. In the early ...
Canopic Jar Conundrum
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Here’s a mnemonic for your history class. Ancient Egyptian embalming/mummification included canopic jars. These are containers that were used to sto...
Hepatitis Confusion
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The various strains are either Oral fecal or Blood borne but which is which? Is A blood borne? Is C blood borne? Here’s a simple mnemonic that will ...
DJ Ilium
16 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
An easy way to remember the three parts of the small intestines in the anatomical order they are found. Duodenum, Jejunum, Ilium. If you t...