Postmortem
An autopsy (also referred to as post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death; or the exam may be performed to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present for research or educational purposes. The term necropsy is generally used for non-human animals.
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. In most cases, a medical examiner or coroner can determine the cause of death.
Autopsies may be performed for legal, medical, educational, or research purposes. Forensic autopsies are used to establish the cause and manner of death and may also help identify the deceased, while 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.
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