A mummy is a dead human or an animal whose soft tissues and organs have been preserved by either intentional or accidental exposure to chemicals, extreme cold, very low humidity, or lack of air, so that the recovered body does not decay further if kept in cool and dry conditions. Some authorities restrict the use of the term to bodies deliberately embalmed with chemicals, but the use of the word to cover accidentally desiccated bodies goes back to at least the early 17th century.
A mummified man likely to be Ramesses I
Howard Carter examining the innermost coffin of Tutankhamun
A 550-year-old Peruvian child mummy being prepared for a CT scan
Mummy in the British Museum
Embalming is the art and science of preserving human remains by treating them to forestall decomposition. This is usually done to make the deceased suitable for viewing as part of the funeral ceremony or keep them preserved for medical purposes in an anatomical laboratory. The three goals of embalming are sanitization, presentation, and preservation, with restoration being an important additional factor in some instances. Performed successfully, embalming can help preserve the body for many years. Embalming has a very long and cross-cultural history, with many cultures giving the embalming processes religious meaning.
William Hunter developed and popularized the modern technique of arterial embalming in the late 18th century.
Embalming fluids used in the early 20th century
Instruments used for embalming
Tank containing embalming fluid