autopsy

Autopsy, borrowed from the Greek term autopsia – meaning “the act of seeing with one’s own eyes” – means the detailed medical examination and/or dissection of a dead body to determine the cause of death or for any scientific and medical purpose. Most of the time, autopsies are used to determine disease, injury, and cause of death of an individual in a criminal investigation. Autopsies result in an autopsy report that can be used in court.

Also termed postmortem; postmortem examination; necropsy; obduction.