The Makeham parameter, a constant mortality rate independent of aging added to the Gompertz law of human mortality, is proposed to be a measure of the impact on mortality rate by extrinsic causes of mortality, with the effect of aging removed. A small intrinsic contribution to mortality, assumed to depend on the components involved in cellular function, is linked to the initial mortality rate of the Gompertz law. To avoid biased results and conclusions, the impact of extrinsic mortality should be eliminated from the Gompertz parameters.