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"What is an Autopsy." //Autopsy (Post Mortem Examination, Obduction)//. MedicineNet, Inc., 1996. Web. 20 Aug. 2012. <[]>.

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 * An autopsy (also known as a post-mortem examination or obduction) is the examination of the body of a dead person.
 * The internal examination begins with the creation of a Y or U- shaped
 * Is performed primarily to determine the cause of death, to identify or characterize the extent of disease states that the person may have had, or to determine whether a particular medical or surgical treatment has been effective.
 * In all other cases, consent must be obtained from the next-of-kin before an autopsy is performed
 * Autopsies sometimes are also requested for teaching and research purposes
 * The next-of-kin also has the right to limit the scope of the autopsy (for example, excluding the brain from evaluation or limiting the procedure to examination of the adomen) if he/she wishes.
 * To remove the brain, an incision is made in the back of the skull from one ear to the other
 * A physician cannot order an autopsy on a patient without the consent of the next-of-kin.
 * Forensic autopsies are autopsies with legal implications and are performed to determine if death was an accident, homocide, suicide, or a natural event.
 * The organs are first examined by the pathlogist to note any changes visible with the naked eye
 * Deaths that are investigated by the medical examiner or coroner include all suspicious deaths, and, depending upon the jurisdiction, may include deaths of persons not being treated by a physician for a known medical condition, deaths of those who have been under medical care for less than 24 hours, or deaths that occurred during operations or other medical procedures.
 * The word autopsy is derived from the Greek word autopsia: "to see with one's own eyes."
 * The extent of an autopsy can vary from the examination of a single organ such as the heart or brain, to a very extensive examination.
 * Psychologically, the autopsy provides closure by identifying or confirming the cause of death.
 * The autopsy begins with a complete external examination. The weight and height of the body are recorded, and identifying marks such as scars and tattoos also are recorded.