In the case of lividity developed in the face, what allows for embalming fluid distribution if using restricted cervical injection?

When faced with lividity in specific areas such as the face, the use of restricted cervical injection helps manage embalming fluid distribution by relying on collateral circulation. The vertebral arteries are part of the body's collateral circulation system, which allows blood (and in this case, embalming fluid) to be delivered to parts of the body that might not otherwise receive adequate flow due to the distribution challenges posed by gravity and position after death.

Collateral circulation refers to the alternative pathways through which blood can flow when the primary routes are blocked or insufficient. In the case of restricted cervical injection, the embalming fluid can travel through these collateral pathways, including the vertebral arteries, helping ensure that the facial tissues receive proper distribution of the fluid, thereby preserving them even when traditional routes of flow may be restricted.

Direct pressure from embalming may assist in manually pushing the fluid into certain areas, but it does not provide the same reliable systemic distribution that collateral circulation does. Increased atmospheric pressure does not play a role in the distribution of embalming fluid in the context of living tissues. Fluid viscosity could impact how the fluid flows through the arteries, but it does not relate directly to the pathways that are available for distribution in this scenario. Therefore, collateral circulation through the vertebral arteries is