What ingredient in embalming fluids helps prevent blood from becoming more viscous?

The ingredient in embalming fluids that helps prevent blood from becoming more viscous is an anticoagulant fluid. Anticoagulants are specifically designed to inhibit the clotting of blood, thus preventing it from thickening and ensuring that it remains in a fluid state during the embalming process. This characteristic is vital for the effective distribution of embalming fluids throughout the vascular system and for achieving an even preservation of the body tissues.

Humectants are used to retain moisture, which is important for keeping tissues hydrated but do not specifically target blood viscosity. Preservatives primarily serve to inhibit microbial growth and degradation of tissues but do not influence blood viscosity directly. Buffering agents are utilized to maintain a stable pH level in embalming solutions, which is essential for chemical reactions but does not affect the viscosity of blood. Hence, the anticoagulant fluid is the most appropriate choice for addressing the issue of blood viscosity during embalming.