Forensic science - Wikipedia
Forensic science, also known as criminalistics, is the application of science principles and methods to support legal decision-making in matters of criminal ...
post mortem
At the end of October, Robert Anderson asked police surgeon Thomas Bond "Thomas Bond (British physician)") to give his opinion on the extent of the murderer's surgical skill and knowledge.[64] The opinion offered by Bond on the character of the "Whitechapel murderer" is the earliest surviving offender profile.[65] Bond's assessment was based on his own examination of the most extensively mutilated victim and the <anchor>post mortem</anchor> notes from the four previous canonical murders.[66] In his opinion the killer must have been a man of solitary habits, subject to "periodical attacks of homicidal and erotic mania", with the character of the mutilations possibly indicating " satyriasis".[66] Bond also stated that "the homicidal impulse may have developed from a revengeful or brooding condition of the mind, or that religious mania may have been the original disease but I do not think either hypothesis is likely".[66]
Autopsy - Wikipedia
Autopsy - Wikipedia[Jump to content](#bodyContent)

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## Contents

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- (Top)

- [1Purposes of performance](#Purposes_of_performance)
- [2Etymology](#Etymology)Toggle Etymology subsection  - [2.1Autopsy](#Autopsy)
  - [2.2Post-mortem](#Post-mortem)
  - [2.3Necropsy](#Necropsy)
- [3Purpose](#Purpose)
- [4Types](#Types)Toggle Types subsection  - [4.1Forensic autopsy](#Forensic_autopsy)
  - [4.2Clinical autopsy](#Clinical_autopsy)
  - [4.3Academic autopsy](#Academic_autopsy)
  - [4.4Virtual autopsy](#Virtual_autopsy)
- [5Prevalence](#Prevalence)
- [6Process](#Process)Toggle Process subsection  - [6.1External examination](#External_examination)
  - [6.2Internal examination](#Internal_examination)
  - [6.3Reconstitution of the body](#Reconstitution_of_the_body)
- [7In stroke](#In_stroke)
- [8History](#History)
- [9Other animals (necropsy)](#Other_animals_(necropsy))
- [10See also](#See_also)
- [11References](#References)
- [12External links](#External_links)

Toggle the table of contents

# Autopsy

68 languages

- [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AD_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AB%D8%A9 "تشريح الجثة – Arabic")
- [Asturianu](https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsia "Autopsia – Asturian")
- [Azərbaycanca](https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meyityarma "Meyityarma – Azerbaijani")
- [বাংলা](https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4 "ময়নাতদন্ত – Bangla")
- [閩南語 / Bân-lâm-gú](https://zh-min-nan.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gi%C4%81m-si "Giām-si – Minnan")
- [Български](https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D1%83%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%8F "Аутопсия – Bulgarian")
- [Bosanski](https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsija "Autopsija – Bosnian")
- [Català](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aut%C3%B2psia "Autòpsia – Catalan")
- [Čeština](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitva "Pitva – Czech")
- [Cymraeg](https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awtopsi "Awtopsi – Welsh")
- [Dansk](https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obduktion "Obduktion – Danish")
- [Deutsch](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obduktion "Obduktion – German")
- [Eesti](https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahkamine "Lahkamine – Estonian")
- [Ελληνικά](https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9D%CE%B5%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%88%CE%AF%CE%B1 "Νεκροψία – Greek")
- [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsia "Autopsia – Spanish")
- [Esperanto](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sekco_(anatomio) "Sekco (anatomio) – Esperanto")
- [Euskara](https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsia "Autopsia – Basque")
- [فارسی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%B4%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C "کالبدگشایی – Persian")
- [Français](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsie "Autopsie – French")
- [Frysk](https://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsy "Autopsy – Western Frisian")
- [Gaeilge](https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scr%C3%BAd%C3%BA_iarbh%C3%A1is "Scrúdú iarbháis – Irish")
- [Galego](https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsia "Autopsia – Galician")
- [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EA%B2%80%EC%8B%9C "검시 – Korean")
- [Հայերեն](https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D4%B4%D5%AB%D5%A1%D5%B0%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%B1%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B4 "Դիահերձում – Armenian")
- [हिन्दी](https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE "शवपरीक्षा – Hindi")
- [Hrvatski](https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obdukcija "Obdukcija – Croatian")
- [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsi "Autopsi – Indonesian")
- [Italiano](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsia "Autopsia – Italian")
- [עברית](https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A0%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%97%D7%94_%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%97%D7%A8_%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%95%D7%AA "נתיחה שלאחר המוות – Hebrew")
- [ಕನ್ನಡ](https://kn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B2%B6%E0%B2%B5%E0%B2%AA%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%80%E0%B2%95%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B7%E0%B3%86 "ಶವಪರೀಕ್ಷೆ – Kannada")
- [ქართული](https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%90%E1%83%A3%E1%83%A2%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9E%E1%83%A1%E1%83%98%E1%83%90 "აუტოპსია – Georgian")
- [Қазақша](https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D3%A8%D0%BB%D1%96%D0%BA%D1%82%D1%96_%D0%B6%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%83 "Өлікті жару – Kazakh")
- [Latina](https://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsia "Autopsia – Latin")
- [Latviešu](https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsija "Autopsija – Latvian")
- [Magyar](https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boncol%C3%A1s "Boncolás – Hungarian")
- [മലയാളം](https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8B%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B1%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B1%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%8B%E0%B5%BC%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F%E0%B4%82 "പോസ്റ്റ്മോർട്ടം – Malayalam")
- [Bahasa Melayu](https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedah_siasat "Bedah siasat – Malay")
- [Nederlands](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsie "Autopsie – Dutch")
- [日本語](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A4%9C%E6%AD%BB "検死 – Japanese")
- [Norsk bokmål](https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obduksjon "Obduksjon – Norwegian Bokmål")
- [Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча](https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsiya "Autopsiya – Uzbek")
- [ਪੰਜਾਬੀ](https://pa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A8%B2%E0%A9%8B%E0%A8%A5-%E0%A8%AA%E0%A9%9C%E0%A8%A4%E0%A8%BE%E0%A8%B2 "ਲੋਥ-ਪੜਤਾਲ – Punjabi")
- [پنجابی](https://pnb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B4_%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86%DA%86 "لاش جانچ – Western Punjabi")
- [پښتو](https://ps.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%BE%D8%B3%D9%8A_%D9%8A%D8%A7_%D8%AF_%D8%AC%D8%B3%D8%AF_%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%87 "اتوپسي يا د جسد معاينه – Pashto")
- [Polski](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sekcja_zw%C5%82ok "Sekcja zwłok – Polish")
- [Português](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aut%C3%B3psia "Autópsia – Portuguese")
- [Română](https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsie "Autopsie – Romanian")
- [Русский](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D1%81%D0%BA%D1%80%D1%8B%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B5 "Вскрытие – Russian")
- [Scots](https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsy "Autopsy – Scots")
- [Simple English](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsy "Autopsy – Simple English")
- [Slovenčina](https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitva "Pitva – Slovak")
- [Slovenščina](https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obdukcija "Obdukcija – Slovenian")
- [Српски / srpski](https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D1%83%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0 "Аутопсија – Serbian")
- [Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски](https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsija "Autopsija – Serbo-Croatian")
- [Suomi](https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruumiinavaus "Ruumiinavaus – Finnish")
- [Svenska](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obduktion "Obduktion – Swedish")
- [Tagalog](https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awtopsiya "Awtopsiya – Tagalog")
- [தமிழ்](https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%82%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81_%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81 "பிணக்கூறு ஆய்வு – Tamil")
- [తెలుగు](https://te.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B0%B6%E0%B0%B5_%E0%B0%AA%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%80%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B7 "శవ పరీక్ష – Telugu")
- [ไทย](https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B9%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%9E "การชันสูตรพลิกศพ – Thai")
- [Türkçe](https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otopsi "Otopsi – Turkish")
- [Українська](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D1%83%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%81%D1%96%D1%8F "Аутопсія – Ukrainian")
- [Tiếng Việt](https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kh%C3%A1m_nghi%E1%BB%87m_t%E1%BB%AD_thi "Khám nghiệm tử thi – Vietnamese")
- [Walon](https://wa.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otopseye "Otopseye – Walloon")
- [吴语](https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AA%8C%E5%B0%B8 "验尸 – Wu")
- [ייִדיש](https://yi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%92 "פאלמעסונג – Yiddish")
- [粵語](https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A9%97%E5%B1%8D "驗屍 – Cantonese")
- [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A9%97%E5%B1%8D "驗屍 – Chinese")

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Medical examination of a corpse

"Post-mortem" redirects here. For other uses, see [Post-mortem (disambiguation)](/wiki/Post-mortem_(disambiguation) "Post-mortem (disambiguation)").

This article is about the medical procedure. For other uses, see [Autopsy (disambiguation)](/wiki/Autopsy_(disambiguation) "Autopsy (disambiguation)").

Autopsy[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Rembrandt_-_The_Anatomy_Lesson_of_Dr_Nicolaes_Tulp.jpg/280px-Rembrandt_-_The_Anatomy_Lesson_of_Dr_Nicolaes_Tulp.jpg)](/wiki/File:Rembrandt_-_The_Anatomy_Lesson_of_Dr_Nicolaes_Tulp.jpg)

_[The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp](/wiki/The_Anatomy_Lesson_of_Dr._Nicolaes_Tulp "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp")_, (1632) by [Rembrandt](/wiki/Rembrandt "Rembrandt"), depicts an autopsy.

[ICD-9-CM](/wiki/ICD-9-CM_Volume_3 "ICD-9-CM Volume 3")89.8[MeSH](/wiki/Medical_Subject_Headings "Medical Subject Headings")[D001344](https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?ui=D001344)

\[ [edit on Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41482 "d:Q41482")\]

An **autopsy** (also referred to as **post-mortem examination**, **obduction**, **necropsy**, or **autopsia cadaverum**) is a [surgical](/wiki/Surgical "Surgical") procedure that consists of a thorough [examination](/wiki/Physical_examination "Physical examination") of a [corpse](/wiki/Cadaver "Cadaver") by [dissection](/wiki/Dissection "Dissection") to determine the cause, mode, and manner of [death](/wiki/Death "Death"); or the exam may be performed to evaluate any [disease](/wiki/Disease "Disease") or [injury](/wiki/Injury "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](/wiki/Pathology "Pathology"). Only a small portion of deaths require an autopsy to be performed, under certain circumstances. In most cases, a [medical examiner](/wiki/Medical_examiner "Medical examiner") or [coroner](/wiki/Coroner "Coroner") can determine the cause of death.

## Purposes of performance

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Purposes of performance")\]

Autopsies are performed for either legal or medical purposes. Autopsies can be performed when any of the following information is desired:

- [Manner of death](/wiki/Manner_of_death "Manner of death") must be determined

  - Determine if death was natural or unnatural
  - Injury source and extent on the corpse
- [Post mortem interval](/wiki/Post-mortem_interval "Post-mortem interval")
- Determining the deceased's identity
- Retain relevant [organs](/wiki/Organ_(biology) "Organ (biology)")
- If it is an infant, determine [live birth](/wiki/Live_birth_(human) "Live birth (human)") and viability

For example, a forensic autopsy is carried out when the [cause of death](/wiki/Cause_of_death "Cause of death") may be a criminal matter, while a clinical or academic autopsy is performed to find the medical cause of death and is used in cases of unknown or uncertain death, or for research purposes. Autopsies can be further classified into cases where an external examination suffices, and those where the body is dissected and an internal examination is conducted. Permission from [next of kin](/wiki/Next_of_kin "Next of kin") may be required for internal autopsy in some cases. Once an internal autopsy is complete, the body is reconstituted by sewing it back together.

## Etymology

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Etymology")\]

### Autopsy

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Autopsy")\]

The term "autopsy" derives from the [Ancient Greek](/wiki/Ancient_Greek "Ancient Greek") αὐτοψία _autopsia_, "to see for oneself", derived from αὐτός ( _autos_, "oneself") and ὄψις ( _opsis_, "sight, view").[\[1\]](#cite_note-Rothenberg-1) The word has been in use since around the 17th century.[\[2\]](#cite_note-2)

### Post-mortem

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Post-mortem")\]

The term "post-mortem" derives from the [Latin](/wiki/Latin "Latin") _post_, 'after', and _mortem_, 'death'. It was first recorded in 1734.[\[3\]](#cite_note-Post-3)

### Necropsy

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Necropsy")\]

The term "necropsy" is derived from the [Greek](/wiki/Greek_language "Greek language") νεκρός 'death' and ὄψις ( _opsis_, 'sight, view').[\[4\]](#cite_note-4)[\[5\]](#cite_note-5)

## Purpose

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Purpose")\]

The principal aims of an autopsy are to determine the [cause of death](/wiki/Cause_of_death "Cause of death"), mode of death, [manner of death](/wiki/Manner_of_death "Manner of death"), the state of health of the person before he or she died, and whether any [medical diagnosis](/wiki/Medical_diagnosis "Medical diagnosis") and treatment before death were appropriate.[\[6\]](#cite_note-6) In most [Western countries](/wiki/Western_world "Western world") the number of autopsies performed in hospitals has been decreasing every year since 1955. Critics, including pathologist and former _[JAMA](/wiki/JAMA_(journal) "JAMA (journal)")_ [editor](/wiki/Editing "Editing") [George D. Lundberg](/wiki/George_D._Lundberg "George D. Lundberg"), have charged that the reduction in autopsies is negatively affecting the care delivered in hospitals, because when mistakes result in death, they are often not investigated and lessons, therefore, remain unlearned. When a person has permitted an autopsy in advance of their death, autopsies may also be carried out for the purposes of teaching or medical research. An autopsy is usually performed in cases of sudden death, where a doctor is not able to write a death certificate, or when death is believed to result from an [unnatural cause](/wiki/Unnatural_death "Unnatural death"). These examinations are performed under a legal authority ( [medical examiner](/wiki/Medical_examiner "Medical examiner"), [coroner](/wiki/Coroner "Coroner"), or [procurator fiscal](/wiki/Procurator_fiscal "Procurator fiscal")) and do not require the consent of relatives of the deceased. The most extreme example is the examination of [murder](/wiki/Murder "Murder") victims, especially when medical examiners are looking for signs of death or the murder method, such as [bullet](/wiki/Bullet "Bullet") wounds and exit points, signs of [strangulation](/wiki/Strangling "Strangling"), or traces of [poison](/wiki/Poison "Poison").
Some religions including [Judaism](/wiki/Judaism "Judaism") and [Islam](/wiki/Islam "Islam") usually discourage the performing of autopsies on their adherents.[\[7\]](#cite_note-7) Organizations such as [ZAKA](/wiki/ZAKA "ZAKA") in Israel and [Misaskim](/wiki/Misaskim "Misaskim") in the United States generally guide families on how to ensure that an unnecessary autopsy is not made.
Autopsies are used in clinical medicine to identify a [medical error](/wiki/Medical_error "Medical error") or a previously unnoticed condition that may endanger the living, such as [infectious diseases](/wiki/Infectious_disease "Infectious disease") or exposure to [hazardous materials](/wiki/Hazardous_material "Hazardous material").[\[8\]](#cite_note-8)
A study that focused on [myocardial infarction](/wiki/Myocardial_infarction "Myocardial infarction") (heart attack) as a cause of death found significant errors of omission and commission,[\[9\]](#cite_note-9) i.e. a sizable number of cases ascribed to [myocardial infarctions (MIs)](/wiki/Myocardial_infarction "Myocardial infarction") were not MIs and a significant number of non-MIs were MIs.

A [systematic review](/wiki/Systematic_review "Systematic review") of studies of the autopsy calculated that in about 25% of autopsies, a major diagnostic error will be revealed.[\[10\]](#cite_note-pmid12783916-10) However, this rate has decreased over time and the study projects that in a contemporary US institution, 8.4% to 24.4% of autopsies will detect major diagnostic errors.

A large [meta-analysis](/wiki/Meta-analysis "Meta-analysis") suggested that approximately one-third of [death certificates](/wiki/Death_certificate "Death certificate") are incorrect and that half of the autopsies performed produced findings that were not suspected before the person died.[\[11\]](#cite_note-11) Also, it is thought that over one-fifth of unexpected findings can only be diagnosed [histologically](/wiki/Histology "Histology"), _i.e._, by [biopsy](/wiki/Biopsy "Biopsy") or autopsy, and that approximately one-quarter of unexpected findings, or 5% of all findings, are major and can similarly only be diagnosed from tissue.

One study found that (out of 694 diagnoses) "Autopsies revealed 171 missed diagnoses, including 21 cancers, 12 strokes, 11 myocardial infarctions, 10 pulmonary emboli, and 9 endocarditis, among others".[\[12\]](#cite_note-pmid14980989-12)

Focusing on [intubated](/wiki/Intubated "Intubated") patients, one study found "abdominal pathologic conditions – abscesses, bowel perforations, or infarction – were as frequent as [pulmonary emboli](/wiki/Pulmonary_embolism "Pulmonary embolism") as a cause of class I errors. While patients with abdominal pathologic conditions generally complained of abdominal pain, results of an examination of the abdomen were considered unremarkable in most patients, and the symptom was not pursued".[\[13\]](#cite_note-pmid1992186-13)

## Types

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Types")\]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Helsingin_yliopiston_dissektiosali.jpg/220px-Helsingin_yliopiston_dissektiosali.jpg)](/wiki/File:Helsingin_yliopiston_dissektiosali.jpg) Dissection room at the [University of Helsinki](/wiki/University_of_Helsinki "University of Helsinki") in Finland in 1928

There are four main types of autopsy:[\[14\]](#cite_note-Strasser_95-14)

- _**Medico-legal**_ or _**forensic**_ or _**coroner's autopsies**_ seek to find the cause and manner of death and to identify the decedent.[\[14\]](#cite_note-Strasser_95-14) They are generally performed, as prescribed by applicable law, in cases of violent, suspicious or sudden deaths, deaths without medical assistance, or during surgical procedures.[\[14\]](#cite_note-Strasser_95-14)
- _**Clinical**_ or _**pathological autopsies**_ are performed to diagnose a particular disease or for research purposes. They aim to determine, clarify, or confirm medical [diagnoses](/wiki/Diagnosis "Diagnosis") that remained unknown or unclear before the patient's death.[\[14\]](#cite_note-Strasser_95-14)
- _**Anatomical**_ or _**academic autopsies**_ are performed by students of anatomy for study purposes only.
- _**Virtual**_ or _**medical imaging autopsies**_ are performed utilizing imaging technology only, primarily magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT).[\[15\]](#cite_note-15)

### Forensic autopsy

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Forensic autopsy")\]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/2010-07-23-rechtsmedizin-berlin-8.jpg/220px-2010-07-23-rechtsmedizin-berlin-8.jpg)](/wiki/File:2010-07-23-rechtsmedizin-berlin-8.jpg) Autopsy room of the [Charité Berlin](/wiki/Charit%C3%A9 "Charité"), Germany, 2010

A forensic autopsy is used to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death.

[Forensic science](/wiki/Forensic_science "Forensic science") involves the application of the sciences to answer questions of interest to the legal system.

Medical examiners attempt to determine the time of death, the exact cause of death, and what, if anything, preceded the death, such as a struggle. A forensic autopsy may include obtaining biological specimens from the deceased for toxicological testing, including stomach contents. [Toxicology](/wiki/Toxicology "Toxicology") tests may reveal the presence of one or more chemical "poisons" (all chemicals, in [sufficient quantities](/wiki/The_dose_makes_the_poison "The dose makes the poison"), can be classified as a poison) and their quantity. Because post-mortem deterioration of the body, together with the gravitational pooling of bodily fluids, will necessarily alter the bodily environment, toxicology tests may overestimate, rather than underestimate, the quantity of the suspected chemical.[\[16\]](#cite_note-16)

Following an in-depth examination of all the [evidence](/wiki/Evidence "Evidence"), a medical examiner or [coroner](/wiki/Coroner "Coroner") will assign a [manner of death](/wiki/Manner_of_death "Manner of death") from the choices proscribed by the fact-finder's jurisdiction and will detail the evidence on the mechanism of the death.

### Clinical autopsy

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Clinical autopsy")\]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Human_dissection_of_the_abdominal_and_toraxic_organs.jpg/220px-Human_dissection_of_the_abdominal_and_toraxic_organs.jpg)](/wiki/File:Human_dissection_of_the_abdominal_and_toraxic_organs.jpg) Pathologist performing a human dissection of the abdominal and thoracic organs in an autopsy room

Clinical autopsies serve two major purposes. They are performed to gain more insight into [pathological](/wiki/Pathology "Pathology") processes and determine what factors contributed to a patient's death. For example, material for infectious disease testing can be collected during an autopsy.[\[17\]](#cite_note-AJCPCOVID-17) Autopsies are also performed to ensure the standard of care at hospitals. Autopsies can yield insight into how patient deaths can be prevented in the future.

Within the United Kingdom, clinical autopsies can be carried out only with the consent of the family of the deceased person, as opposed to a medico-legal autopsy instructed by a Coroner (England & Wales) or Procurator Fiscal (Scotland), to which the family cannot object.[\[18\]](#cite_note-18)

Over time, autopsies have not only been able to determine the cause of death, but have also led to discoveries of various diseases such as fetal alcohol syndrome, Legionnaire's disease, and even viral hepatitis.

### Academic autopsy

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: Academic autopsy")\]

Academic autopsies are performed by students of anatomy for the purpose of study, giving medical students and residents firsthand experience viewing anatomy and pathology. Postmortem examinations require the skill to connect anatomic and clinical pathology together since they involve organ systems and interruptions from ante-mortem and post-mortem. These academic autopsies allow for students to practice and develop skills in pathology and become meticulous in later case examinations.[\[19\]](#cite_note-19)

### Virtual autopsy

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=11 "Edit section: Virtual autopsy")\]

Virtual autopsies are performed using radiographic techniques which can be used in post-mortem examinations for a deceased individual.[\[20\]](#cite_note-20) It is an alternative to medical autopsies, where radiographs are used, for example, [Magnetic resonance imaging](/wiki/Magnetic_resonance_imaging "Magnetic resonance imaging") (MRI) and Computed tomography ( [CT scan](/wiki/CT_scan "CT scan")) which produce radiographic images in order to determine the cause of death, the nature, and the manner of death, without dissecting the deceased. It can also be used in the identification of the deceased.[\[21\]](#cite_note-21) This method is helpful in determining the questions pertaining to an autopsy without putting the examiner at risk of biohazardous materials that can be in an individual's body.

## Prevalence

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=12 "Edit section: Prevalence")\]

In 2004 in England and Wales, there were 514,000 deaths, of which 225,500 were [referred to the coroner](/wiki/Inquests_in_England_and_Wales "Inquests in England and Wales"). Of those, 115,800 (22.5% of all deaths) resulted in post-mortem examinations and there were 28,300 [inquests](/wiki/Inquests_in_England_and_Wales "Inquests in England and Wales"), 570 with a jury.[\[22\]](#cite_note-dca-22)

The rate of consented (hospital) autopsy in the UK and worldwide has declined rapidly over the past 50 years. In the UK in 2013, only 0.7% of inpatient adult deaths were followed by consented autopsy.[\[23\]](#cite_note-23)

The autopsy rate in [Germany](/wiki/Germany "Germany") is below 5% and thus much lower than in other countries in Europe. The governmental reimbursement is hardly sufficient to cover all the costs, so the medical journal _[Deutsches Ärzteblatt](/wiki/Deutsches_%C3%84rzteblatt "Deutsches Ärzteblatt")_, issued by the [German Medical Association](/wiki/German_Medical_Association "German Medical Association"), makes the effort to raise awareness regarding the underfinancing of autopsies. The same sources stated that autopsy rates in [Sweden](/wiki/Sweden "Sweden") and [Finland](/wiki/Finland "Finland") reach 20 to 30%.[\[24\]](#cite_note-24)

In the United States, autopsy rates fell from 17% in 1980 to 14% in 1985[\[25\]](#cite_note-cdc_numbers-25) and 11.5% in 1989,[\[26\]](#cite_note-26) although the figures vary notably from county to county.[\[27\]](#cite_note-27)

## Process

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: Process")\]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Cadaver_dissection_table_-_long_shot.jpg/200px-Cadaver_dissection_table_-_long_shot.jpg)](/wiki/File:Cadaver_dissection_table_-_long_shot.jpg) [Cadaver](/wiki/Cadaver "Cadaver") dissection tables are similar to those used in medical or forensic autopsies.

The body is received at a medical examiner's office, municipal mortuary, or hospital in a [body bag](/wiki/Body_bag "Body bag") or evidence sheet. A new body bag is used for each body to ensure that only [evidence](/wiki/Evidence "Evidence") from that body is contained within the bag. Evidence sheets are an alternative way to transport the body. An evidence sheet is a [sterile](/wiki/Sterilization_(microbiology) "Sterilization (microbiology)") sheet that covers the body when it is moved. If it is believed there may be any significant evidence on the hands, for example, [gunshot residue](/wiki/Gunshot_residue "Gunshot residue") or skin under the [fingernails](/wiki/Nail_(anatomy) "Nail (anatomy)"), a separate paper sack is put around each hand and taped shut around the wrist.

There are two parts to the physical examination of the body: the external and internal examination. [Toxicology](/wiki/Toxicology "Toxicology"), [biochemical tests](/wiki/Medical_test "Medical test") or [genetic testing](/wiki/Genetic_testing "Genetic testing")/ [molecular autopsy](/wiki/Molecular_autopsy "Molecular autopsy") often supplement these and frequently assist the [pathologist](/wiki/Pathology "Pathology") in assigning the cause or causes of death.

### External examination

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=14 "Edit section: External examination")\]

At many institutions, the person responsible for handling, cleaning, and moving the body is called a [diener](/wiki/Diener "Diener"), the [German](/wiki/German_language "German language") word for _servant_. In the UK this role is performed by an Anatomical Pathology Technician (APT), who will also assist the pathologist in eviscerating the body and reconstruction after the autopsy. After the body is received, it is first [photographed](/wiki/Photography "Photography"). The examiner then notes the kind of clothes - if any - and their position on the body before they are removed. Next, any evidence such as residue, flakes of paint, or other material is collected from the external surfaces of the body. [Ultraviolet](/wiki/Ultraviolet "Ultraviolet") light may also be used to search body surfaces for any evidence not easily visible to the naked eye. Samples of [hair](/wiki/Hair "Hair"), [nails](/wiki/Nail_(anatomy) "Nail (anatomy)"), and the like are taken, and the body may also be [radiographically imaged](/wiki/X-ray "X-ray"). Once the external evidence is collected, the body is removed from the bag, undressed, and any [wounds](/wiki/Wound "Wound") present are examined. The body is then cleaned, weighed, and measured in preparation for the internal examination.

A general description of the body as regards [ethnic group](/wiki/Ethnic_group "Ethnic group"), [sex](/wiki/Sex "Sex"), age, [hair colour](/wiki/Human_hair_colour "Human hair colour") and length, [eye colour](/wiki/Eye_colour "Eye colour"), and other distinguishing features ( [birthmarks](/wiki/Birthmark "Birthmark"), old [scar](/wiki/Scar "Scar") [tissue](/wiki/Tissue_(biology) "Tissue (biology)"), [moles](/wiki/Nevus "Nevus"), [tattoos](/wiki/Tattoo "Tattoo"), etc.) is then made. A [voice recorder](/wiki/Dictation_machine "Dictation machine") or a standard examination form is normally used to record this information.

In some countries,[\[28\]](#cite_note-28)[\[29\]](#cite_note-29) _e.g._, Scotland, France, Germany, Russia, and Canada, an autopsy may comprise an external examination only. This concept is sometimes termed a "view and grant". The principle behind this is that the medical records, history of the deceased and circumstances of death have all indicated as to the cause and manner of death without the need for an internal examination.[\[30\]](#cite_note-30)

### Internal examination

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=15 "Edit section: Internal examination")\]

If not already in place, a plastic or rubber brick called a "head block" is placed under the shoulders of the corpse; hyperflexion of the neck makes the spine arch backward while stretching and pushing the [chest](/wiki/Thorax "Thorax") upward to make it easier to incise. This gives the APT, or pathologist, maximum exposure to the [trunk](/wiki/Torso "Torso"). After this is done, the internal examination begins. The internal examination consists of inspecting the [internal organs](/wiki/Organ_(anatomy) "Organ (anatomy)") of the body by [dissection](/wiki/Dissection "Dissection") for evidence of [trauma](/wiki/Major_trauma "Major trauma") or other indications of the cause of death. For the internal examination there are a number of different approaches available:

- a large and deep Y-shaped incision can be made starting at the top of each shoulder and running down the front of the chest, meeting at the lower point of the [sternum](/wiki/Sternum "Sternum") (breastbone).
- a curved incision made from the tips of each shoulder, in a semi-circular line across the chest/decolletage, to approximately the level of the second rib, curving back up to the opposite shoulder.
- a single vertical incision is made from the sternal notch at the base of the neck.
- a U-shaped incision is made at the tip of both shoulders, down along the side of the chest to the bottom of the rib cage, following it. This is typically used on women and during chest-only autopsies.

There is no need for any incision to be made, which will be visible after completion of the examination when the deceased is dressed in a shroud.
In all of the above cases, the incision then extends all the way down to the [pubic bone](/wiki/Pubis_(bone) "Pubis (bone)") (making a deviation to either side of the navel) and avoiding, where possible, transecting any scars that may be present.

[Bleeding](/wiki/Bleeding "Bleeding") from the cuts is minimal, or non-existent because the pull of [gravity](/wiki/Gravity "Gravity") is producing the only [blood pressure](/wiki/Blood_pressure "Blood pressure") at this point, related directly to the complete lack of cardiac functionality. However, in certain cases, there is anecdotal evidence that bleeding can be quite profuse, especially in cases of [drowning](/wiki/Drowning "Drowning").

At this point, shears are used to open the chest cavity. The examiner uses the tool to cut through the ribs on the costal cartilage, to allow the sternum to be removed; this is done so that the heart and lungs can be seen [in situ](/wiki/In_situ "In situ") and that the heart – in particular, the [pericardial sac](/wiki/Pericardium "Pericardium") – is not damaged or disturbed from opening. A PM 40 knife is used to remove the sternum from the soft tissue that attaches it to the mediastinum. Now the [lungs](/wiki/Lung "Lung") and the heart are exposed. The sternum is set aside and will eventually be replaced at the end of the autopsy.

At this stage, the [organs](/wiki/Organ_(anatomy) "Organ (anatomy)") are exposed. Usually, the organs are removed in a systematic fashion. Making a decision as to what order the organs are to be removed will depend highly on the case in question. Organs can be removed in several ways: The first is the _[en masse](/wiki/List_of_French_expressions_in_English#En_masse "List of French expressions in English")_ technique of Letulle whereby all the organs are removed as one large mass. The second is the en bloc method of Ghon. The most popular in the UK is a modified version of this method, which is divided into four groups of organs. Although these are the two predominant evisceration techniques, in the UK variations on these are widespread.

One method is described here: The pericardial sac is opened to view the heart. Blood for chemical analysis may be removed from the [inferior vena cava](/wiki/Inferior_vena_cava "Inferior vena cava") or the pulmonary veins. Before removing the heart, the [pulmonary artery](/wiki/Pulmonary_artery "Pulmonary artery") is opened in order to search for a blood clot. The heart can then be removed by cutting the inferior vena cava, the pulmonary veins, the [aorta](/wiki/Aorta "Aorta") and pulmonary artery, and the [superior vena cava](/wiki/Superior_vena_cava "Superior vena cava"). This method leaves the aortic arch intact, which will make things easier for the embalmer. The left lung is then easily accessible and can be removed by cutting the [bronchus](/wiki/Bronchus "Bronchus"), artery, and vein at the [hilum](/wiki/Root_of_the_lung "Root of the lung"). The right lung can then be similarly removed. The abdominal organs can be removed one by one after first examining their relationships and vessels.

Most pathologists, however, prefer the organs to be removed all in one "block". Using dissection of the fascia, blunt dissection; using the fingers or hands and traction; the organs are dissected out in one piece for further inspection and sampling. During autopsies of infants, this method is used almost all of the time. The various organs are examined, weighed and tissue samples in the form of slices are taken. Even major [blood vessels](/wiki/Blood_vessel "Blood vessel") are cut open and inspected at this stage. Next, the [stomach](/wiki/Stomach "Stomach") and intestinal contents are examined and weighed. This could be useful to find the cause and time of death, due to the natural passage of food through the bowel during digestion. The more area empty, the longer the deceased had gone without a meal before death.

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Streptococcus_pneumoniae_meningitis%2C_gross_pathology_33_lores.jpg/175px-Streptococcus_pneumoniae_meningitis%2C_gross_pathology_33_lores.jpg)](/wiki/File:Streptococcus_pneumoniae_meningitis,_gross_pathology_33_lores.jpg) A brain autopsy demonstrating signs of [meningitis](/wiki/Meningitis "Meningitis"). The [forceps](/wiki/Forceps "Forceps") (center) are retracting the [dura mater](/wiki/Dura_mater "Dura mater") (white). Underneath the dura mater are the [leptomeninges](/wiki/Meninges#Leptomeninges "Meninges"), which appear to be [edematous](/wiki/Edema "Edema") and have multiple small hemorrhagic foci.[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Standard_sections_of_brain.jpg/220px-Standard_sections_of_brain.jpg)](/wiki/File:Standard_sections_of_brain.jpg) Autopsy of a brain after sectioning, showing a normal brain with the cerebrum cut in coronal sections, and the cerebellum, pons and medulla cut in horizontal sections. Standard sections for microscopic examination are annotated.

The body block that was used earlier to elevate the chest cavity is now used to elevate the head. To examine the [brain](/wiki/Brain "Brain"), an incision is made from behind one ear, over the crown of the head, to a point behind the other ear. When the autopsy is completed, the incision can be neatly sewn up and is not noticed when the head is resting on a pillow in an open casket [funeral](/wiki/Funeral "Funeral"). The [scalp](/wiki/Scalp "Scalp") is pulled away from the [skull](/wiki/Skull "Skull") in two flaps with the front flap going over the face and the rear flap over the back of the neck. The skull is then cut with a circular (or semicircular) bladed reciprocating saw to create a "cap" that can be pulled off, exposing the brain. The brain is then observed in situ. Then the brain's connections to the cranial nerves and [spinal cord](/wiki/Spinal_cord "Spinal cord") are severed, and the brain is lifted out of the skull for further examination. If the brain needs to be preserved before being inspected, it is contained in a large container of formalin (15 percent solution of [formaldehyde](/wiki/Formaldehyde "Formaldehyde") gas in buffered [water](/wiki/Water "Water")) for at least two, but preferably four weeks. This not only preserves the brain, but also makes it firmer, allowing easier handling without corrupting the tissue.

### Reconstitution of the body

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=16 "Edit section: Reconstitution of the body")\]

An important component of the autopsy is the reconstitution of the body such that it can be viewed, if desired, by relatives of the deceased following the procedure. After the examination, the body has an open and empty [thoracic cavity](/wiki/Thoracic_cavity "Thoracic cavity") with chest flaps open on both sides; the top of the skull is missing, and the skull flaps are pulled over the face and neck. It is unusual to examine the face, arms, hands or legs internally.

In the UK, following the [Human Tissue Act 2004](/wiki/Human_Tissue_Act_2004 "Human Tissue Act 2004") all organs and tissue must be returned to the body unless permission is given by the family to retain any tissue for further investigation. Normally the internal body cavity is lined with cotton, wool, or a similar material, and the organs are then placed into a plastic bag to prevent leakage and are returned to the body cavity. The chest flaps are then closed and sewn back together and the skull cap is sewed back in place. Then the body may be wrapped in a [shroud](/wiki/Shroud "Shroud"), and it is common for relatives to not be able to tell the procedure has been done when the body is viewed in a [funeral parlor](/wiki/Funeral_home "Funeral home") after [embalming](/wiki/Embalming "Embalming").

## In stroke

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=17 "Edit section: In stroke")\]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Gross_pathology_of_an_old_cerebral_stroke%2C_annotated.jpg/220px-Gross_pathology_of_an_old_cerebral_stroke%2C_annotated.jpg)](/wiki/File:Gross_pathology_of_an_old_cerebral_stroke,_annotated.jpg) Cavitation at gross pathology of an old stroke in the left posterior parietal lobe

An autopsy of [stroke](/wiki/Stroke "Stroke") may be able to establish the time taken from the onset of cerebral infarction to the time of death.

Various microscopic findings are present at times from infarction as follows:[\[31\]](#cite_note-pmid19690757-31)

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Histopathology_of_thalamus_infarction_at_approximately_24_hours%2C_high_magnification%2C_annotated.jpg/240px-Histopathology_of_thalamus_infarction_at_approximately_24_hours%2C_high_magnification%2C_annotated.jpg)](/wiki/File:Histopathology_of_thalamus_infarction_at_approximately_24_hours,_high_magnification,_annotated.jpg) Histopathology at high magnification of a normal neuron, and an ischemic stroke at approximately 24 hours on [H&E stain](/wiki/H%26E_stain "H&E stain"): The neurons become hypereosinophilic and there is an infiltrate of [neutrophils](/wiki/Neutrophil "Neutrophil"). There is slight edema and loss of normal architecture in the surrounding [neuropil](/wiki/Neuropil "Neuropil").FindingPresence
Eosinophilic (red) neurons
1–35 days
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes
1–37 days
Other acute neuronal injuries
1–60 days
Coagulative necrosis
1 day - 5 years
Spongiosis of surrounding tissue
1 day and older
Astrogliosis (gemistocytes)
2 days and older
Neo-vascularization
3 days and older
Hemosiderin pigment
3 days and older
Mononuclear inflammatory cells
3 days–50 years
Macrophages
3 days–50 years
Cavitation
12 days or older

- [![Micrograph showing cortical pseudolaminar necrosis, a finding seen in strokes on medical imaging and at autopsy. H&E-LFB stain.](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Cortical_pseudolaminar_necrosis_-_lfb_-_very_low_mag.jpg/120px-Cortical_pseudolaminar_necrosis_-_lfb_-_very_low_mag.jpg)](/wiki/File:Cortical_pseudolaminar_necrosis_-_lfb_-_very_low_mag.jpg "Micrograph showing cortical pseudolaminar necrosis, a finding seen in strokes on medical imaging and at autopsy. H&E-LFB stain.")

[Micrograph](/wiki/Micrograph "Micrograph") showing [cortical pseudolaminar necrosis](/wiki/Cortical_pseudolaminar_necrosis "Cortical pseudolaminar necrosis"), a finding seen in strokes on [medical imaging](/wiki/Medical_imaging "Medical imaging") and at autopsy. [H&E-LFB stain](/wiki/LFB_stain "LFB stain").

- [![Micrograph of the superficial cerebral cortex showing neuron loss and reactive astrocytes in a person that has had a stroke. H&E-LFB stain.](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Reactive_astrocytes_-_lfb_-_high_mag.jpg/80px-Reactive_astrocytes_-_lfb_-_high_mag.jpg)](/wiki/File:Reactive_astrocytes_-_lfb_-_high_mag.jpg "Micrograph of the superficial cerebral cortex showing neuron loss and reactive astrocytes in a person that has had a stroke. H&E-LFB stain.")

[Micrograph](/wiki/Micrograph "Micrograph") of the superficial [cerebral cortex](/wiki/Cerebral_cortex "Cerebral cortex") showing neuron loss and [reactive astrocytes](/wiki/Reactive_astrocytes "Reactive astrocytes") in a person that has had a stroke. [H&E-LFB stain](/wiki/LFB_stain "LFB stain").


## History

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=18 "Edit section: History")\]

See also: [History of dissection](/wiki/Dissection#History "Dissection")

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/3492769920_f48c41bdc8_bDissection19.jpg/220px-3492769920_f48c41bdc8_bDissection19.jpg)](/wiki/File:3492769920_f48c41bdc8_bDissection19.jpg) Dissection, 19th century US

Around 3000 BCE, [ancient Egyptians](/wiki/Ancient_Egypt "Ancient Egypt") were one of the first civilizations to practice the removal and examination of the internal organs of humans in the religious practice of [mummification](/wiki/Mummy "Mummy").[\[1\]](#cite_note-Rothenberg-1)[\[32\]](#cite_note-32)

Autopsies that opened the body to determine the cause of death were attested at least in the early third millennium BCE, although they were opposed in many ancient societies where it was believed that the outward disfigurement of dead persons prevented them from entering the [afterlife](/wiki/Afterlife "Afterlife")[\[33\]](#cite_note-Schafer_43-33) (as with the Egyptians, who removed the organs through tiny slits in the body).[\[1\]](#cite_note-Rothenberg-1) Notable Greek autopsists were [Erasistratus](/wiki/Erasistratus "Erasistratus") and [Herophilus of Chalcedon](/wiki/Herophilos "Herophilos"), who lived in 3rd century BCE [Alexandria](/wiki/Alexandria "Alexandria"), but in general, autopsies were rare in ancient Greece.[\[33\]](#cite_note-Schafer_43-33) In 44 BCE, [Julius Caesar](/wiki/Julius_Caesar "Julius Caesar") was the subject of an official autopsy after [his murder](/wiki/Assassination_of_Julius_Caesar "Assassination of Julius Caesar") by rival senators, the physician's report noting that the second stab wound Caesar received was the fatal one.[\[33\]](#cite_note-Schafer_43-33) Julius Caesar had been stabbed a total of 23 times.[\[34\]](#cite_note-autogenerated2003-34) By around 150 BCE, [ancient Roman](/wiki/Ancient_Rome "Ancient Rome") legal practice had established clear parameters for autopsies.[\[1\]](#cite_note-Rothenberg-1) The greatest ancient anatomist was [Galen](/wiki/Galen "Galen") (CE 129– c. 216), whose findings would not be challenged until the [Renaissance](/wiki/Renaissance "Renaissance") over a thousand years later.[\[35\]](#cite_note-news.discovery-35)

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Enrique_Simonet_-_La_autopsia_1890.jpg/220px-Enrique_Simonet_-_La_autopsia_1890.jpg)](/wiki/File:Enrique_Simonet_-_La_autopsia_1890.jpg) _Autopsy_ (1890) by [Enrique Simonet](/wiki/Enrique_Simonet "Enrique Simonet")

[Ibn Tufail](/wiki/Ibn_Tufail "Ibn Tufail") has elaborated on autopsy in his treatise called _Hayy ibn Yaqzan_ and [Nadia Maftouni](/wiki/Nadia_Maftouni "Nadia Maftouni"), discussing the subject in an extensive article, believes him to be among the early supporters of autopsy and [vivisection](/wiki/Vivisection "Vivisection").[\[36\]](#cite_note-36)

The dissection of human remains for medical or scientific reasons continued to be practiced irregularly after the Romans, for instance by the Arab physicians [Avenzoar](/wiki/Ibn_Zuhr "Ibn Zuhr") and [Ibn al-Nafis](/wiki/Ibn_al-Nafis "Ibn al-Nafis"). In Europe they were done with enough regularity to become skilled, as early as 1200, and successful efforts to preserve the body, by filling the veins with wax and metals.[\[35\]](#cite_note-news.discovery-35) Until the 20th century,[\[35\]](#cite_note-news.discovery-35) it was thought that the modern autopsy process derived from the [anatomists](/wiki/Anatomy "Anatomy") of the [Renaissance](/wiki/Renaissance "Renaissance"). [Giovanni Battista Morgagni](/wiki/Giovanni_Battista_Morgagni "Giovanni Battista Morgagni") (1682–1771), celebrated as the father of [anatomical pathology](/wiki/Anatomical_pathology "Anatomical pathology"),[\[37\]](#cite_note-37) wrote the first exhaustive work on pathology, _De Sedibus et Causis Morborum per Anatomen Indagatis_ (The Seats and Causes of Diseases Investigated by Anatomy, 1769).[\[1\]](#cite_note-Rothenberg-1)

In 1543, [Andreas Vesalius](/wiki/Andreas_Vesalius "Andreas Vesalius") conducted a public dissection of the body of a former criminal. He asserted and articulated the bones, this became the world's oldest surviving anatomical preparation. It is still displayed at the Anatomical Museum at the University of Basel.[\[38\]](#cite_note-38)

In the mid-1800s, [Carl von Rokitansky](/wiki/Carl_von_Rokitansky "Carl von Rokitansky") and colleagues at the [Second Vienna Medical School](/wiki/Medical_University_of_Vienna "Medical University of Vienna") began to undertake dissections as a means to improve diagnostic medicine.[\[34\]](#cite_note-autogenerated2003-34)

The 19th-century medical researcher [Rudolf Virchow](/wiki/Rudolf_Virchow "Rudolf Virchow"), in response to a lack of standardization of autopsy procedures, established and published specific autopsy protocols (one such protocol still bears his name). He also developed the concept of pathological processes.[\[39\]](#cite_note-39)

During the turn of the 20th century, the [Scotland Yard](/wiki/Scotland_Yard "Scotland Yard") created the Office of the Forensic Pathologist, a medical examiner trained in medicine, charged with investigating the cause of all unnatural deaths, including accidents, homicides, suicides, etc.

## Other animals (necropsy)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=19 "Edit section: Other animals (necropsy)")\]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Enzootic_pneumonia_ewe.jpg/220px-Enzootic_pneumonia_ewe.jpg)](/wiki/File:Enzootic_pneumonia_ewe.jpg) A field post-mortem exam of a female [sheep](/wiki/Sheep "Sheep") (ewe)

A post-mortem examination, or **necropsy**, is far more common in [veterinary medicine](/wiki/Veterinary_medicine "Veterinary medicine") than in [human medicine](/wiki/Medicine "Medicine"). For many species that exhibit few external symptoms (sheep), or that are not suited to detailed clinical examination (poultry, cage birds, zoo animals), it is a common method used by [veterinary physicians](/wiki/Veterinary_physician "Veterinary physician") to come to a diagnosis. A necropsy is mostly used like an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The entire body is examined at the gross visual level, and samples are collected for additional analyses.[\[40\]](#cite_note-40)

## See also

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=20 "Edit section: See also")\]

- [Body identification](/wiki/Body_identification "Body identification")
- [Digital autopsy](/wiki/Digital_autopsy "Digital autopsy")
- [Forensic anthropology](/wiki/Forensic_anthropology "Forensic anthropology")
- [Forensic facial reconstruction](/wiki/Forensic_facial_reconstruction "Forensic facial reconstruction")
- [Forensic identification](/wiki/Forensic_identification "Forensic identification")
- [Murder book](/wiki/Murder_book "Murder book")
- [Virtopsy](/wiki/Virtopsy "Virtopsy")
- [Vivisection](/wiki/Vivisection "Vivisection")

## References

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=21 "Edit section: References")\]

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02. **[^](#cite_ref-2)**Clark MJ (2005). "Historical Keyword "autopsy"". _The Lancet_. **366** (9499): 1767. [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)"): [10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67715-X](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0140-6736%2805%2967715-X). [PMID](/wiki/PMID_(identifier) "PMID (identifier)") [16298206](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16298206). [S2CID](/wiki/S2CID_(identifier) "S2CID (identifier)") [208790970](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:208790970).
03. **[^](#cite_ref-Post_3-0)**["post-mortem (adj.)"](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=post-mortem). _[Online Etymology Dictionary](/wiki/Online_Etymology_Dictionary "Online Etymology Dictionary")_. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
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05. **[^](#cite_ref-5)**["Necropsy - an overview \| ScienceDirect Topics"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/necropsy#:~:text=The%20origin%20of%20the%20term,examination%20of%20a%20dead%20body.). _www.sciencedirect.com_. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
06. **[^](#cite_ref-6)**["Do you need an autopsy for a wrongful death case in Georgia?"](https://baderscott.com/blog/is-autopsy-necessary-wrongful-death-case-georgia/). _baderscott.com_. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
07. **[^](#cite_ref-7)**Elizabeth C Burton, Kim A Collins. [Religions and the Autopsy](http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1705993-overview), EMedicine. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
08. **[^](#cite_ref-8)**Michael Tsokos, "Die Klaviatur des Todes", Knaur, Munich, 2013, pp. 179–89
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10. **[^](#cite_ref-pmid12783916_10-0)**Shojania KG, Burton EC, McDonald KM, Goldman L (2003). "Changes in rates of autopsy-detected diagnostic errors over time: a systematic review". _JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association_. **289** (21): 2849–56. [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)"): [10.1001/jama.289.21.2849](https://doi.org/10.1001%2Fjama.289.21.2849). [PMID](/wiki/PMID_(identifier) "PMID (identifier)") [12783916](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12783916).
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37. **[^](#cite_ref-37)**[Battista Morgagni](https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/392171/Giovanni-Battista-MorgagniGiovanni), Britannica Online Encyclopedia
38. **[^](#cite_ref-38)**["The Fabric of the human body"](https://web.stanford.edu/class/history13/Readings/vesalius.htm). Stanford University. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
39. **[^](#cite_ref-39)**Küskü EA (1 January 2022). ["Examination of Scientific Revolution Medicine on the Human Body / Bilimsel Devrim Tıbbını İnsan Bedeni Üzerinden İncelemek"](https://www.academia.edu/87500649). _The Legends Journal of European History Studies_.
40. **[^](#cite_ref-40)**["Necropsy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113037/https://uac.arizona.edu/necropsy). University Animal Care, The University of Arizona. Archived from [the original](https://uac.arizona.edu/necropsy) on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.

## External links

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Autopsy&action=edit&section=22 "Edit section: External links")\]

![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Autopsies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Autopsies "commons:Category:Autopsies").

![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/38px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)

[Wikisource](/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource") has the text of the [1911 _Encyclopædia Britannica_](/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition "Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition") article "[Autopsy](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Autopsy "wikisource:1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Autopsy")".

- [![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/13px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)](/wiki/File:Wikiquote-logo.svg) Quotations related to [Autopsy](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Autopsy "wikiquote:Special:Search/Autopsy") at Wikiquote
- [Autopsy](http://www.pathguy.com/autopsy.htm) – a detailed description by a [pathologist](/wiki/Pathologist "Pathologist") complete with cartoon figures.
- [The Virtual Autopsy](http://www.le.ac.uk/pathology/teach/va/welcome.html) – a site from the [University of Leicester](/wiki/University_of_Leicester "University of Leicester") where one examines the patient, looks at the (medical) history and gets a try at the diagnosis.
- [_Autopsy of a Murder_](https://web.archive.org/web/20070315195545/http://www.montrealsciencecentre.com/autopsy/) – An interactive exploration of a murder scene and the science involved in a criminalistic investigation: autopsy and laboratory expertise. Produced by the Montreal Science Centre for its namesake exhibition.
- [Autopsy checklist and reporting template at Patholines](https://patholines.org/Autopsy)

- [v](/wiki/Template:Pathology "Template:Pathology")
- [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Pathology "Template talk:Pathology")
- [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Pathology "Special:EditPage/Template:Pathology")

[Pathology](/wiki/Pathology "Pathology")

Principles of pathology

- [Disease](/wiki/Disease "Disease")
  - [Infection](/wiki/Infection "Infection")
  - [Neoplasia](/wiki/Neoplasm "Neoplasm")
  - [Cause](/wiki/Cause_(medicine) "Cause (medicine)")
  - [Pathogenesis](/wiki/Pathogenesis "Pathogenesis")
- [Hemodynamics](/wiki/Hemodynamics "Hemodynamics")
  - [Ischemia](/wiki/Ischemia "Ischemia")
- [Inflammation](/wiki/Inflammation "Inflammation")
- [Cell damage](/wiki/Cell_damage "Cell damage")
- [Wound healing](/wiki/Wound_healing "Wound healing")

[Cellular adaptation](/wiki/Cellular_adaptation "Cellular adaptation")[Atrophy](/wiki/Atrophy "Atrophy")[Hypertrophy](/wiki/Hypertrophy "Hypertrophy")[Hyperplasia](/wiki/Hyperplasia "Hyperplasia")[Dysplasia](/wiki/Dysplasia "Dysplasia")[Metaplasia](/wiki/Metaplasia "Metaplasia") [Squamous](/wiki/Squamous_metaplasia "Squamous metaplasia")[Glandular](/wiki/Glandular_metaplasia "Glandular metaplasia")[Cell death](/wiki/Cell_death "Cell death")[Necrosis](/wiki/Necrosis "Necrosis") [Coagulative necrosis](/wiki/Coagulative_necrosis "Coagulative necrosis")[Liquefactive necrosis](/wiki/Liquefactive_necrosis "Liquefactive necrosis")[Gangrenous necrosis](/wiki/Gangrene "Gangrene")[Caseous necrosis](/wiki/Caseous_necrosis "Caseous necrosis")[Fat necrosis](/wiki/Fat_necrosis "Fat necrosis")[Fibrinoid necrosis](/wiki/Fibrinoid_necrosis "Fibrinoid necrosis")[Myocytolysis](/wiki/Myocytolysis "Myocytolysis")[Programmed cell death](/wiki/Programmed_cell_death "Programmed cell death") [Apoptosis](/wiki/Apoptosis "Apoptosis")[Pyknosis](/wiki/Pyknosis "Pyknosis")[Karyorrhexis](/wiki/Karyorrhexis "Karyorrhexis")[Karyolysis](/wiki/Karyolysis "Karyolysis")_Accumulations__[pigment](/wiki/Pigment "Pigment")_ [Hemosiderin](/wiki/Hemosiderin "Hemosiderin")[Lipochrome](/wiki/Lipochrome "Lipochrome")/ [Lipofuscin](/wiki/Lipofuscin "Lipofuscin")[Melanin](/wiki/Melanin "Melanin")[Steatosis](/wiki/Steatosis "Steatosis")

[Anatomical pathology](/wiki/Anatomical_pathology "Anatomical pathology")

- [Surgical pathology](/wiki/Surgical_pathology "Surgical pathology")
- [Cytopathology](/wiki/Cytopathology "Cytopathology")
- Autopsy
- [Molecular pathology](/wiki/Molecular_pathology "Molecular pathology")
- [Forensic pathology](/wiki/Forensic_pathology "Forensic pathology")
- [Oral and maxillofacial pathology](/wiki/Oral_and_maxillofacial_pathology "Oral and maxillofacial pathology")

- [Gross processing](/wiki/Gross_processing "Gross processing")
- [Histopathology](/wiki/Histopathology "Histopathology")
- [Immunohistochemistry](/wiki/Immunohistochemistry "Immunohistochemistry")
- [Electron microscopy](/wiki/Electron_microscope "Electron microscope")
- [Immunofluorescence](/wiki/Immunofluorescence "Immunofluorescence")
- [Fluorescence in situ hybridization](/wiki/Fluorescence_in_situ_hybridization "Fluorescence in situ hybridization")

[Clinical pathology](/wiki/Clinical_pathology "Clinical pathology")

- [Clinical chemistry](/wiki/Clinical_chemistry "Clinical chemistry")
- [Hematopathology](/wiki/Hematopathology "Hematopathology")
- [Transfusion medicine](/wiki/Transfusion_medicine "Transfusion medicine")
- [Medical microbiology](/wiki/Medical_microbiology "Medical microbiology")
- [Diagnostic immunology](/wiki/Immunoassay "Immunoassay")
- [Immunopathology](/wiki/Immunopathology "Immunopathology")

- [Enzyme assay](/wiki/Enzyme_assay "Enzyme assay")
- [Mass spectrometry](/wiki/Mass_spectrometry "Mass spectrometry")
- [Chromatography](/wiki/Chromatography "Chromatography")
- [Flow cytometry](/wiki/Flow_cytometry "Flow cytometry")
- [Blood bank](/wiki/Blood_bank "Blood bank")
- [Microbiological culture](/wiki/Microbiological_culture "Microbiological culture")
- [Serology](/wiki/Serology "Serology")

- [v](/wiki/Template:Death "Template:Death")
- [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Death "Template talk:Death")
- [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Death "Special:EditPage/Template:Death")

[Death](/wiki/Death "Death")

In medicine

[Cell death](/wiki/Cell_death "Cell death")

- [Necrosis](/wiki/Necrosis "Necrosis")
  - [Avascular necrosis](/wiki/Avascular_necrosis "Avascular necrosis")
  - [Coagulative necrosis](/wiki/Coagulative_necrosis "Coagulative necrosis")
  - [Liquefactive necrosis](/wiki/Liquefactive_necrosis "Liquefactive necrosis")
  - [Gangrenous necrosis](/wiki/Gangrene "Gangrene")
  - [Caseous necrosis](/wiki/Caseous_necrosis "Caseous necrosis")
  - [Fat necrosis](/wiki/Fat_necrosis "Fat necrosis")
  - [Fibrinoid necrosis](/wiki/Fibrinoid_necrosis "Fibrinoid necrosis")
  - [Temporal lobe necrosis](/wiki/Temporal_lobe_necrosis "Temporal lobe necrosis")
- [Programmed cell death](/wiki/Programmed_cell_death "Programmed cell death")
  - [AICD](/wiki/Activation-induced_cell_death "Activation-induced cell death")
  - [Anoikis](/wiki/Anoikis "Anoikis")
  - [Apoptosis](/wiki/Apoptosis "Apoptosis")
  - [Autophagy](/wiki/Autophagy "Autophagy")
  - [Intrinsic apoptosis](/wiki/Intrinsic_apoptosis "Intrinsic apoptosis")
  - [Necroptosis](/wiki/Necroptosis "Necroptosis")
  - [Paraptosis](/wiki/Paraptosis "Paraptosis")
  - [Parthanatos](/wiki/Parthanatos "Parthanatos")
  - [Phenoptosis](/wiki/Phenoptosis "Phenoptosis")
  - [Pseudoapoptosis](/wiki/Pseudoapoptosis "Pseudoapoptosis")
  - [Pyroptosis](/wiki/Pyroptosis "Pyroptosis")
- [Autolysis](/wiki/Autolysis_(biology) "Autolysis (biology)")
- [Autoschizis](/wiki/Autoschizis "Autoschizis")
- [Eschar](/wiki/Eschar "Eschar")
- [Immunogenic cell death](/wiki/Immunogenic_cell_death "Immunogenic cell death")
- [Ischemic cell death](/wiki/Ischemic_cell_death "Ischemic cell death")
- [Pyknosis](/wiki/Pyknosis "Pyknosis")
- [Karyorrhexis](/wiki/Karyorrhexis "Karyorrhexis")
- [Karyolysis](/wiki/Karyolysis "Karyolysis")
- [Mitotic catastrophe](/wiki/Mitotic_catastrophe "Mitotic catastrophe")
- [Suicide gene](/wiki/Suicide_gene "Suicide gene")

- [Abortion](/wiki/Abortion "Abortion")
- [Accidental death](/wiki/Accidental_death "Accidental death")
- Autopsy
- [Brain death](/wiki/Brain_death "Brain death")
  - [Brainstem death](/wiki/Brainstem_death "Brainstem death")
- [Clinical death](/wiki/Clinical_death "Clinical death")
  - [DOA](/wiki/Dead_on_arrival "Dead on arrival")
- [Death by natural causes](/wiki/Manner_of_death "Manner of death")
- [Death rattle](/wiki/Death_rattle "Death rattle")
- [Dysthanasia](/wiki/Dysthanasia "Dysthanasia")
- [End-of-life care](/wiki/End-of-life_care "End-of-life care")
- [Euthanasia](/wiki/Euthanasia "Euthanasia")
- [Lazarus sign](/wiki/Lazarus_sign "Lazarus sign")
- [Lazarus syndrome](/wiki/Lazarus_syndrome "Lazarus syndrome")
- [Medical declaration of death](/wiki/Legal_death#Medical_declaration "Legal death")
- [Organ donation](/wiki/Organ_donation "Organ donation")
- [Terminal illness](/wiki/Terminal_illness "Terminal illness")
- [Unnatural death](/wiki/Manner_of_death "Manner of death")

[Lists](/wiki/Category:Death-related_lists "Category:Death-related lists")

- [Causes of death by rate](/wiki/List_of_causes_of_death_by_rate "List of causes of death by rate")
- [Notable deaths by year](/wiki/Lists_of_deaths_by_year "Lists of deaths by year")
- [Expressions related to death](/wiki/List_of_expressions_related_to_death "List of expressions related to death")
- [Natural disasters](/wiki/List_of_natural_disasters_by_death_toll "List of natural disasters by death toll")
- [People by cause of death](/wiki/Lists_of_people_by_cause_of_death "Lists of people by cause of death")
- [Premature obituaries](/wiki/List_of_premature_obituaries "List of premature obituaries")
- [Preventable causes of death](/wiki/Preventable_causes_of_death "Preventable causes of death")
- [Unusual deaths](/wiki/List_of_unusual_deaths "List of unusual deaths")
- [List of ways people dishonor the dead](/wiki/List_of_ways_people_dishonor_the_dead "List of ways people dishonor the dead")
- [List of ways people honor the dead](/wiki/List_of_ways_people_honor_the_dead "List of ways people honor the dead")

Mortality

- [Birthday effect](/wiki/Birthday_effect "Birthday effect")
- [Child mortality](/wiki/Child_mortality "Child mortality")
- [Excess mortality](/wiki/Excess_mortality "Excess mortality")
- [Gompertz–Makeham law of mortality](/wiki/Gompertz%E2%80%93Makeham_law_of_mortality "Gompertz–Makeham law of mortality")
- [Infant mortality](/wiki/Infant_mortality "Infant mortality")
- [Karoshi](/wiki/Karoshi "Karoshi")
- [Maternal death](/wiki/Maternal_death "Maternal death")
- [Maternal mortality in fiction](/wiki/Maternal_mortality_in_fiction "Maternal mortality in fiction")
- _[Memento mori](/wiki/Memento_mori "Memento mori")_
- [Micromort](/wiki/Micromort "Micromort")
- [Mortality rate](/wiki/Mortality_rate "Mortality rate")
  - [RAMR](/wiki/Risk_adjusted_mortality_rate "Risk adjusted mortality rate")
- [Mortality salience](/wiki/Mortality_salience "Mortality salience")
- [Perinatal mortality](/wiki/Perinatal_mortality "Perinatal mortality")

After death

**[Body](/wiki/Cadaver "Cadaver")**

Stages

- [Pallor mortis](/wiki/Pallor_mortis "Pallor mortis")
- [Algor mortis](/wiki/Algor_mortis "Algor mortis")
- [Rigor mortis](/wiki/Rigor_mortis "Rigor mortis")
- [Livor mortis](/wiki/Livor_mortis "Livor mortis")
- [Putrefaction](/wiki/Putrefaction "Putrefaction")
- [Decomposition](/wiki/Decomposition "Decomposition")
- [Skeletonization](/wiki/Skeletonization "Skeletonization")
- [Fossilization](/wiki/Fossil "Fossil")

Preservation

- [Cryopreservation](/wiki/Cryopreservation "Cryopreservation")
  - [Cryonics](/wiki/Cryonics "Cryonics")
  - [Neuropreservation](/wiki/Neuropreservation "Neuropreservation")
- [Embalming](/wiki/Embalming "Embalming")
- [Maceration](/wiki/Maceration_(bone) "Maceration (bone)")
- [Mummification](/wiki/Mummy "Mummy")
- [Plastination](/wiki/Plastination "Plastination")
- [Prosection](/wiki/Prosection "Prosection")
- [Taxidermy](/wiki/Taxidermy "Taxidermy")

[Disposal](/wiki/Disposal_of_human_corpses "Disposal of human corpses")

- [Burial](/wiki/Burial "Burial")
  - [Natural burial](/wiki/Natural_burial "Natural burial")
  - [Sky burial](/wiki/Sky_burial "Sky burial")
- [Cremation](/wiki/Cremation "Cremation")
- [Dismemberment](/wiki/Dismemberment "Dismemberment")
- [Excarnation](/wiki/Excarnation "Excarnation")
- [Promession](/wiki/Promession "Promession")
- [Resomation](/wiki/Alkaline_hydrolysis_(body_disposal) "Alkaline hydrolysis (body disposal)")

- [Beating heart cadaver](/wiki/Beating_heart_cadaver "Beating heart cadaver")
- [Body donation](/wiki/Body_donation "Body donation")
- [Cadaveric spasm](/wiki/Cadaveric_spasm "Cadaveric spasm")
- [Coffin birth](/wiki/Coffin_birth "Coffin birth")
- [Death erection](/wiki/Death_erection "Death erection")
- [Dissection](/wiki/Dissection "Dissection")
- [Gibbeting](/wiki/Gibbeting "Gibbeting")
- [Postmortem caloricity](/wiki/Postmortem_caloricity "Postmortem caloricity")
- [Post-mortem interval](/wiki/Post-mortem_interval "Post-mortem interval")

**Other aspects**

- [Carrion](/wiki/Carrion "Carrion")
- [Cemetery](/wiki/Cemetery "Cemetery")
- [Consciousness after death](/wiki/Consciousness_after_death "Consciousness after death")
  - [Afterlife](/wiki/Afterlife "Afterlife")
  - [Tukdam](/wiki/Tukdam "Tukdam")
- [Customs](/wiki/Category:Death_customs "Category:Death customs")
- [Crematorium](/wiki/Crematorium "Crematorium")
- [Desecration of graves](/wiki/Desecration_of_graves "Desecration of graves")
- [Eternal oblivion](/wiki/Eternal_oblivion "Eternal oblivion")
- [Examination](/wiki/Medical_examiner "Medical examiner")
- [Funeral](/wiki/Funeral "Funeral")
- [Grief](/wiki/Grief "Grief")
- [Internet](/wiki/Death_and_the_Internet "Death and the Internet")
- [Midwife](/wiki/Death_midwife "Death midwife")
- [Mourning](/wiki/Mourning "Mourning")
  - [Online mourning](/wiki/Online_mourning "Online mourning")
- [Obituary](/wiki/Obituary "Obituary")
- [Reincarnation](/wiki/Reincarnation "Reincarnation")
  - [Palingenesis](/wiki/Palingenesis "Palingenesis")
  - [Saṃsāra](/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra "Saṃsāra")
- [Resurrection](/wiki/Resurrection "Resurrection")
- [Underworld](/wiki/Underworld "Underworld")
- [Vigil](/wiki/Vigil "Vigil")

Paranormal

- [Ghosts](/wiki/Ghost "Ghost")
- [Near-death experience](/wiki/Near-death_experience "Near-death experience")
- [Near-death studies](/wiki/Near-death_studies "Near-death studies")
- [Necromancy](/wiki/Necromancy "Necromancy")
- [Out-of-body experience](/wiki/Out-of-body_experience "Out-of-body experience")
- [Reincarnation research](/wiki/Template:Reincarnation_research "Template:Reincarnation research")
- [Séance](/wiki/S%C3%A9ance "Séance")

Legal

- [Abortion law](/wiki/Abortion_law "Abortion law")
- [Administration](/wiki/Administration_(probate_law) "Administration (probate law)")
- [Capital punishment](/wiki/Capital_punishment "Capital punishment")
- [Cause of death](/wiki/Cause_of_death "Cause of death")
- [Civil death](/wiki/Civil_death "Civil death")
- [Coroner](/wiki/Coroner "Coroner")
- [Death-qualified jury](/wiki/Death-qualified_jury "Death-qualified jury")
- [Death certificate](/wiki/Death_certificate "Death certificate")
- [Declared death _in absentia_](/wiki/Presumption_of_death "Presumption of death")
- [Death row](/wiki/Death_row "Death row")
- [Dying declaration](/wiki/Dying_declaration "Dying declaration")
- [Inquest](/wiki/Inquest "Inquest")
- [Legal death](/wiki/Legal_death "Legal death")
- [Murder](/wiki/Murder "Murder")
- [Necropolitics](/wiki/Necropolitics "Necropolitics")
- [Prohibition of dying](/wiki/Prohibition_of_dying "Prohibition of dying")
- [Right to die](/wiki/Right_to_die "Right to die")
- [Suspicious death](/wiki/Suspicious_death "Suspicious death")
- [Trust law](/wiki/Trust_(law) "Trust (law)")
- [Will](/wiki/Will_and_testament "Will and testament")

Fields

- [Death tech](/w/index.php?title=Death_tech&action=edit&redlink=1 "Death tech (page does not exist)") \[ [pt](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Tech "pt:Death Tech")\]
- [Forensic pathology](/wiki/Forensic_pathology "Forensic pathology")
- [Funeral director](/wiki/Funeral_director "Funeral director")
- [Mortuary science](/wiki/Mortuary_science "Mortuary science")
- [Necrobiology](/wiki/Cell_death "Cell death")
- [Post-mortem chemistry](/wiki/Post-mortem_chemistry "Post-mortem chemistry")
- [Post-mortem photography](/wiki/Post-mortem_photography "Post-mortem photography")
- [Taphonomy](/wiki/Taphonomy "Taphonomy")
  - [Biostratinomy](/wiki/Biostratinomy "Biostratinomy")
- [Thanatology](/wiki/Thanatology "Thanatology")

Other

- [Apparent death](/wiki/Apparent_death "Apparent death")
- [Chinese burial money](/wiki/Chinese_burial_money "Chinese burial money")
- [Coins for the dead](/wiki/Coins_for_the_dead "Coins for the dead")
- [Dark tourism](/wiki/Dark_tourism "Dark tourism")
- [Darwin Awards](/wiki/Darwin_Awards "Darwin Awards")
- [Death and culture](/wiki/Death_and_culture "Death and culture")
- [Death anniversary](/wiki/Death_anniversary "Death anniversary")
- [Death anxiety](/wiki/Death_anxiety "Death anxiety")
- [Death deity](/wiki/List_of_death_deities "List of death deities")
  - [Personification of death](/wiki/Death_(personification) "Death (personification)")
  - [Dying-and-rising god](/wiki/Dying-and-rising_deity "Dying-and-rising deity")
  - [Psychopomp](/wiki/Psychopomp "Psychopomp")
- [Death camp](/wiki/Extermination_camp "Extermination camp")
- [Death drive](/wiki/Death_drive "Death drive")
- [Death education](/wiki/Death_education "Death education")
- [Death from laughter](/wiki/Death_from_laughter "Death from laughter")
- [Death hoax](/wiki/Death_hoax "Death hoax")
- [Death knell](/wiki/Death_knell "Death knell")
- [Death march](/wiki/Death_march "Death march")
- [Death messenger](/wiki/Death_messenger "Death messenger")
- [Death notification](/wiki/Death_notification "Death notification")
- [Death panel](/wiki/Death_panel "Death panel")
- [Death poem](/wiki/Death_poem "Death poem")
- [Death pose](/wiki/Opisthotonic_death_pose "Opisthotonic death pose")
- [Death-positive movement](/wiki/Death-positive_movement "Death-positive movement")
- [Death squad](/wiki/Death_squad "Death squad")
- [Death threat](/wiki/Death_threat "Death threat")
- [Death trajectory](/wiki/Death_trajectory "Death trajectory")
- [Dignified death](/wiki/Dignified_death "Dignified death")
- [Extinction](/wiki/Extinction "Extinction")
- [Festival of the Dead](/wiki/Festival_of_the_Dead "Festival of the Dead")
- [Fascination with death](/wiki/Fascination_with_death "Fascination with death")
- [Hierarchy of death](/wiki/Hierarchy_of_death "Hierarchy of death")
- [Homicide](/wiki/Homicide "Homicide")
- [Immortality](/wiki/Immortality "Immortality")
- [Last rites](/wiki/Last_rites "Last rites")
- [Longevity](/wiki/Longevity "Longevity")
- [Martyr](/wiki/Martyr "Martyr")
- [Museum of Death](/wiki/Museum_of_Death "Museum of Death")
- [Necronym](/wiki/Necronym "Necronym")
- [Necrophilia](/wiki/Necrophilia "Necrophilia")
- [Necrophobia](/wiki/Necrophobia "Necrophobia")
- [Philosophy of death](/wiki/Philosophy_of_death "Philosophy of death")
- [Predation](/wiki/Predation "Predation")
- [Sacrifice](/wiki/Sacrifice "Sacrifice")
  - [human](/wiki/Human_sacrifice "Human sacrifice")
- [Suicide](/wiki/Suicide "Suicide")
  - [Assisted suicide](/wiki/Assisted_suicide "Assisted suicide")
- [Thanabot](/w/index.php?title=Thanabot&action=edit&redlink=1 "Thanabot (page does not exist)") \[ [ca](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief_bot "ca:Grief bot")\]
- [Thanatosensitivity](/wiki/Thanatosensitivity "Thanatosensitivity")

- ![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png)[Category](/wiki/Category:Death "Category:Death")
- ![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Global_thinking.svg/10px-Global_thinking.svg.png)[Outline](/wiki/Outline_of_death "Outline of death")

[Authority control databases](/wiki/Help:Authority_control "Help:Authority control"): National [![Edit this at Wikidata](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png)](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41482#identifiers "Edit this at Wikidata")

- [Germany](https://d-nb.info/gnd/4128945-6)
- [United States](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/sh85010461)
- [France](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb119471010)
- [BnF data](https://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb119471010)
- [Czech Republic](https://aleph.nkp.cz/F/?func=find-c&local_base=aut&ccl_term=ica=ph124078&CON_LNG=ENG)
- [Spain](http://catalogo.bne.es/uhtbin/authoritybrowse.cgi?action=display&authority_id=XX525512)
- [Israel](http://olduli.nli.org.il/F/?func=find-b&local_base=NLX10&find_code=UID&request=987007295823205171)

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[Categories](/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"):

- [Medical aspects of death](/wiki/Category:Medical_aspects_of_death "Category:Medical aspects of death")
- [Anatomical pathology](/wiki/Category:Anatomical_pathology "Category:Anatomical pathology")
- [Forensic techniques](/wiki/Category:Forensic_techniques "Category:Forensic techniques")
- [Forensic pathology](/wiki/Category:Forensic_pathology "Category:Forensic pathology")
- [Corpses](/wiki/Category:Corpses "Category:Corpses")

Hidden categories:

- [Webarchive template wayback links](/wiki/Category:Webarchive_template_wayback_links "Category:Webarchive template wayback links")
- [CS1 German-language sources (de)](/wiki/Category:CS1_German-language_sources_(de) "Category:CS1 German-language sources (de)")
- [Articles with short description](/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description "Category:Articles with short description")
- [Short description is different from Wikidata](/wiki/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata "Category:Short description is different from Wikidata")
- [Use dmy dates from April 2020](/wiki/Category:Use_dmy_dates_from_April_2020 "Category:Use dmy dates from April 2020")
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- This page was last edited on 11 June 2024, at 00:23 (UTC).
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