Autopsy

About

An autopsy is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death. The examination may also be performed to evaluate any disease or injury present for research or educational purposes. Autopsies are usually performed by a specialized medical doctor called a pathologist. Only a small portion of deaths require an autopsy to be performed under certain circumstances, as medical examiners or coroners can determine the cause of death in most cases. These procedures may be performed for legal, medical, educational, or research purposes. Forensic autopsies are used to establish the cause and manner of death and may help identify the deceased. Clinical autopsies investigate disease and clarify or confirm diagnoses made before death. Academic autopsies are conducted for anatomical study, and some examinations use medical imaging rather than dissection. The term necropsy is generally used for non-human animals.