Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-4-105: Bodies to be used only for promotion of science — Surrender to relative upon demand.

(a) The institution receiving a body shall use it only within this state and for the purpose of medical and dental, surgical or anatomical study and for the promotion of science alone.

(b) If, at any time before or after such use of the body, it is claimed for burial by any relatives of the deceased person, at their expense, or in the case of a veteran's body, the commissioner of veterans services, then the institution shall surrender the body.

(c) If, at any time, the institution elects to discontinue use of the unclaimed body for the purposes prescribed in this section, the institution shall summon a funeral director to take over the body at the expense of the institution.