Autopsy

An autopsy (or necropsy) is a medical examination of cadavers.

The aim of an autopsy is to precisely establish the causes of death of a victim. They are also performed by medical students to learn about human anatomy.

The examination is performed by a forensic doctor who begins with a detailed external examination of the cadaver. A long incision is then made into the thorax and abdomen to allow the internal organs to be examined and removed. They may be weighed and analysed for histology or toxicology.