Autopsy
An Autopsy, also known as a post-mortem examination, is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present. It is usually performed by a specialized medical doctor called a pathologist.
Purpose[edit | edit source]
The primary purposes of an autopsy are as follows:
- Determination of Cause of Death: The most apparent reason for performing an autopsy is to ascertain the cause of death.
- Medical Research and Education: Autopsies are often used in medical teaching and research to understand disease progression and effects.
- Public Health: Autopsies also contribute to the statistical data on disease prevalence and mortality rates, assisting in the formulation of public health policies.
Procedure[edit | edit source]
The autopsy procedure consists of several steps:
- External Examination: The first step in the autopsy process is a thorough external examination.
- Internal Examination: After the external examination, the pathologist proceeds with an internal examination.
- Histologic Examination: If necessary, following the gross examination, organs might be further investigated at a microscopic level.
Types of Autopsy[edit | edit source]
There are three main types of autopsies:
- Forensic or Medicolegal Autopsy: This is performed when the cause of death may be a criminal matter.
- Clinical or Pathological Autopsy: These are performed to diagnose a particular disease or for research purposes.
- Anatomical or Academic Autopsy: These autopsies are performed by students of anatomy for learning and discovering the finer details of human anatomy.
Ethical and Legal Considerations[edit | edit source]
In most jurisdictions, a physician cannot perform an autopsy without the consent of the next of kin. In cases of sudden, unexplained death or when foul play is suspected, a medical examiner or coroner can order an autopsy without the consent of the next of kin.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Autopsy Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
Autopsy Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD