autopsy: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	postmortem • postmortem examination • necropsy

Photos

Woodcut illustration of Andreas Vesalius examining a dissected human arm, showing exposed muscles and tendons, from De Humani Corporis Fabrica, 1543.

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Topics

forensic pathology forensic anthropology pathology forensic science laboratory diagnosis forensic medicine blood analysis biopsy glucose tolerance test Pap smear urinalysis lumbar puncture fecal occult blood test bone marrow aspiration semen analysis basal metabolic rate (bmr)

Key People

Rokitansky, detail of an engraving

Karl, baron von Rokitansky

Austrian pathologist

Rudolf Virchow

Rudolf Virchow

German pathologist and statesman