Ethan Rhodes
A morgue, predominantly used in North American English, is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, autopsy, respectful burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. It is typically a facility associated with a hospital, medical examiner's office, or coroner's office. In modern times, corpses are refrigerated to delay decomposition. The term morgue comes from the French word for dead house.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Morgue or Mortuary |
| Location | Hospital, medical examiner's office, coroner's office, funeral home, cruise ship |
| Purpose | Storage of human corpses |
| Temperature | Between 2 °C (36 °F) and 4 °C (39 °F) or −10 °C (14 °F) and −50 °C (−58 °F) |
| Timing | Temporary storage, usually within 72 hours (three days) of death |
| Tasks | Transportation, identification, visual inspection, autopsy |
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What You'll Learn
Morgues are used for the short-term storage of human corpses
A morgue is a place used for the short-term storage of human corpses, typically located in a hospital or medical examiner's office. The term 'morgue' is derived from the French word for "dead house". It is a secure, climate-controlled environment designed to preserve bodies and maintain sanitary conditions. While the term 'morgue' is predominantly used in North American English, 'mortuary' is the term used in the UK, although the two terms are often used interchangeably.
In hospitals, morgues are usually found in larger institutions, especially those with emergency and trauma centres. They are used to handle deceased patients, while smaller hospitals or specialised medical facilities may not have a morgue and may instead transfer deceased individuals to a nearby hospital or directly to a funeral home. Cruise ships are also equipped with small morgues to store bodies temporarily until they reach port.
Morgues play a crucial role in society, providing a dignified space for the deceased during the period between death and burial or cremation. They are used for the temporary storage of bodies awaiting identification, removal for autopsy, or respectful burial and cremation. In modern times, corpses are typically refrigerated to delay decomposition, with temperatures ranging from 2°C to 4°C, or even lower, between −10°C and −50°C.
While the primary function of a morgue is short-term storage, the length of time a body is kept can vary depending on cultural and religious practices surrounding burial and cremation. In some countries, burial or cremation must take place within 72 hours of death, while in others, it may be customary to wait several weeks or even months. In certain cases, corpses may be kept for extended periods, up to one or two years, depending on factors such as cultural practices, financial considerations, and the availability of funeral services.
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Bodies are refrigerated to delay decomposition
A morgue, predominantly used in North American English, or a mortuary, used in the UK, is a place for the storage of human corpses. These bodies are awaiting identification, autopsy, burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. In modern times, corpses are refrigerated to delay decomposition.
Refrigeration is used to temporarily preserve bodies after death and before burial or cremation. This is especially important in cases where burial or cremation takes place some time after death. In some countries, burial must take place within 72 hours (three days) of death, but in others, it is customary for burial to occur several weeks or months after death. In rare cases, corpses are kept for up to one or two years. Refrigeration is not always necessary, as some cultures embalm their dead, which preserves the body.
In times of crisis, when many deaths occur in a short period, overwhelming mortuary services, bodies are often disposed of as quickly as possible. However, in modern, affluent jurisdictions, efforts are made to requisition additional equipment and facilities to act as temporary morgues. Any refrigerated space large enough to fit a person can be used as a temporary morgue. For example, ice rinks or refrigerator trucks can be designated as morgues in emergency situations.
Mortuary refrigerators are typically made from stainless steel to maintain cleanliness and are designed with efficiency and respect in mind. These refrigerators are set to temperatures ranging from 0 to 4°C to delay decomposition. While this temperature range does not prevent decomposition entirely, it significantly slows the process, allowing for the respectful storage of bodies.
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Not all hospitals have a morgue
A morgue, or mortuary, is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, autopsy, burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. Typically, a morgue is associated with a hospital, medical examiner's office, or coroner's office. While larger hospitals, especially those with emergency and trauma centres, usually have morgues to handle deceased patients, not all hospitals have a morgue. Smaller hospitals or specialised medical facilities may not have the capacity to store bodies long-term and may make alternative arrangements, such as transferring deceased individuals to a nearby hospital with a morgue or directly to a funeral home.
In some cases, funeral homes may also have morgues, although this is not standard. Funeral homes primarily handle bodies that have already been released for final arrangements and may not have the necessary refrigeration units or space to store bodies long-term.
The terms "morgue" and "mortuary" are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences in their core functions. A mortuary is typically a simpler and more basic facility compared to a crematorium or funeral home. While a mortuary may handle embalming and other funeral arrangements, families seeking a funeral or specialised cremation may need to seek assistance elsewhere.
In modern times, corpses are usually refrigerated to delay decomposition, and jurisdictions may designate temporary morgues in suitable public facilities, such as ice rinks, in the event of an incident causing a high number of deaths.
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Cruise ships have small morgues
A morgue, or mortuary, is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, removal for autopsy, burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. In modern times, corpses are usually refrigerated to delay decomposition. While the term 'morgue' is predominantly used in North American English, and 'mortuary' in the UK, the terms are often used interchangeably.
When a death occurs on a cruise ship, officials notify the authorities on shore, and a medical team assesses the body and moves it to the morgue. In most cases, the body will be removed at the next port of call, but sometimes it may remain on board until the end of the voyage. Cruise lines have no legal obligation to pay expenses associated with death at sea, and passengers, their family members, or travel companions are typically responsible for the cost of transporting the body. However, crew members are trained to support those affected by the death and assist with arrangements.
While having a morgue on a cruise ship may come as a surprise to some, it is a necessary precaution given the high number of passengers and the relatively elderly demographic. With thousands of passengers and crew members on board, it is not uncommon for deaths to occur during a cruise. Therefore, cruise ships are prepared to handle such situations with designated facilities and protocols.
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Euphemisms for morgues include 'Rose Cottage' and 'Rainbow's End'
A morgue or mortuary is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, autopsy, burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. In modern times, corpses are usually refrigerated to delay decomposition. The term 'mortuary' dates back to the early 14th century, deriving from the Anglo-French 'mortuarie', meaning "gift to a parish priest from a deceased parishioner".
The term 'morgue' is predominantly used in North American English, while 'mortuary' is more common in British English, although the two terms are often used interchangeably. In British hospitals, the euphemisms "Rose Cottage" and "Rainbow's End" are sometimes employed to enable discussions about death in front of patients and visitors, the latter being primarily used for children. For instance, a tannoy announcement may state: "Can a hospital porter please go to bed 10 on Ward B. Cyril Jarvis needs to be taken to Rose Cottage, thank you."
These euphemisms allow hospital staff to discreetly communicate about the morgue without causing distress to patients and visitors. The use of "Rose Cottage" and "Rainbow's End" as substitutes for 'morgue' reflects a sensitivity towards the emotional impact of such a place and its associated topics.
In some funeral homes, the morgue is located in the same room or adjacent to the cremation ovens, known as retorts. Certain religions require that the family witness the body's incineration, and viewing windows are installed to accommodate these customs without requiring the family to enter the morgue.
During emergencies or incidents with a high number of fatalities, temporary morgues may be set up in suitable public facilities, such as ice rinks, or even in refrigerator trucks, to manage the increased demand for corpse storage. Local jurisdictions typically maintain permanent morgue capacities to handle expected fatality numbers, but temporary solutions may be necessary in exceptional circumstances.
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Frequently asked questions
A morgue is a facility or designated area within a hospital or other medical institution where human corpses are stored, often temporarily, before they are identified, autopsied, or prepared for burial or
A mortuary is a building or room in a hospital where dead bodies are kept before they are buried or cremated, or before they are identified or examined. In modern times, corpses have customarily been refrigerated to delay decomposition. While morgues and mortuaries can be in the same physical location, they are different in their core function. Mortuaries are much more simple and basic compared to crematoriums.
No, while larger hospitals, especially those with emergency and trauma centres, typically have morgues to handle deceased patients, smaller hospitals or specialised medical facilities might not. In such cases, they may arrange for deceased individuals to be transferred to a nearby hospital with a morgue or directly to a funeral home.
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