Autopsy

An autopsy, also known as a post-mortem examination or necropsy, is a detailed examination of a deceased person's body and organs to determine the cause of death or the nature of any disease or injury. This procedure typically involves external and internal examinations, including the dissection and analysis of tissues and fluids. Autopsies are crucial in medical science, helping to advance understanding of diseases, improve treatment strategies, and provide legal and forensic insights. They may be mandated by law in certain cases, such as suspicious deaths or those occurring during surgery, or requested by family members to gain clarity on the cause of death. The examination often culminates in a comprehensive report summarizing the findings.

Autopsy meaning with examples

• The medical examiner ordered an autopsy after the unexpected death of the young athlete to determine if there was an underlying medical condition that contributed to the event. The family requested to know the cause of death to find closure after the event. This would allow them to receive a detailed report of the findings.
• Following the airplane crash, a forensic autopsy was conducted on all of the victims to help determine the cause of the disaster. This included the collection of all the bodies. The investigators were looking for possible mechanical failures, sabotage, or pilot error and this gave them a lot of information.
• The hospital conducted an autopsy on the patient who died after a routine surgery to analyze any potential complications. Their family knew the cause of death and was now requesting the body so they could begin the funeral proceedings. The report would indicate where the hospital could improve.
• The detective insisted on an autopsy to investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. The detective was looking for evidence. The detectives would use the findings of this examination to determine if a crime had been committed. The victim's loved ones had to wait.
• As part of the research into a new strain of influenza, scientists performed autopsies on infected animals. This would help understand the virus and the harm it could cause. This would give a wealth of information to determine the impact. They would also study how the infection progressed.