The word 'autopsy' has been originated from the Greek word implying 'seeing for oneself.' During the autopsy, the dead body is carefully examined by the physician who is well-versed with the diseases afflicted the human body. He inspects each and every organ to find out the cause of the death. A standard autopsy includes mainly examination of the abdomen, chest area and the brain.
To begin with, the height and the weight of the body are recorded. Then the practitioner looks for discernible marks like scars and injury marks. A careful external examination of the body is undertaken. The next process is the internal examination which commences with a creation of a you-shaped or Y-shaped incision from the shoulders, joining at the breast bone and going down to the pubic bone. With the skin and other underlying tissues out of the way, the physician lays bare the abdominal cavity and the ribcage. After removing the frontal part of the ribcage, he proceeds to remove the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, the trachea, the lungs and the heart. After cutting the neck and chest organs, the abdominal organs are dissected. They include liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, reproductive organs, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas etc. For removing the brain, a slit is made through the rear of the skull, from one ear to the other.
After the above processes are done, the major organs are changed into thin parts of tissues that can be put on slides and examined under a microscope. The organs are either placed back in the body or are kept back for diagnosis, research or teaching purposes.
To begin with, the height and the weight of the body are recorded. Then the practitioner looks for discernible marks like scars and injury marks. A careful external examination of the body is undertaken. The next process is the internal examination which commences with a creation of a you-shaped or Y-shaped incision from the shoulders, joining at the breast bone and going down to the pubic bone. With the skin and other underlying tissues out of the way, the physician lays bare the abdominal cavity and the ribcage. After removing the frontal part of the ribcage, he proceeds to remove the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, the trachea, the lungs and the heart. After cutting the neck and chest organs, the abdominal organs are dissected. They include liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, reproductive organs, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas etc. For removing the brain, a slit is made through the rear of the skull, from one ear to the other.
After the above processes are done, the major organs are changed into thin parts of tissues that can be put on slides and examined under a microscope. The organs are either placed back in the body or are kept back for diagnosis, research or teaching purposes.