The Body Parts That Don't Burn During Cremation

Humans are curious beings with enquiring minds that may find it quite interesting when thinking about which body parts burn during cremation and which do not. Many of us would most likely assume that the entire body burns under that immense heat in the cremation chamber and turns to ash; however, this is not the case.

Which Parts Don't Burn During Cremation?

During cremation, the body parts that do burn consist of organs, soft tissue, hair, and skin, while the water in our bodies evaporates. The body parts that do not burn are bone fragments. Teeth usually burn during cremation, but not entirely. Teeth are made up of four different kinds of tissue—the soft tissue (pulp) is burned during cremation, while the toughest tissue (enamel) may survive the cremation.

Once cremation has taken place, the cremated remains (cremains) that are left behind are not literal ashes. They are the remaining bone fragments and tooth enamel that have been crushed into a fine powder that is then returned to the family.

Can a Corpse Explode During Cremation?

A common misconception is that the head of a deceased body will explode during the cremation process if there is no hole or wound in it (much like that of a microwaved potato that has not been punctured). It is believed that the myth arose when many firefighters found the fragmented skulls of burn victims, without realizing that skulls have a thin layer of tissue that quickly becomes brittle when exposed to extreme heat and can easily be broken by falling debris or other such means.

Therefore, a head exploding during cremation is a debunked myth.