Autopsy, borrowed from the Greek 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.
[Last updated in November of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]