Autopsy

Autopsy, examination of the external structures and internal organs of a dead body for the purpose of determining the cause of death or for studying the damage done by disease; also called necropsy or postmortem examination. The law requires that every cause of death be verified by a physician or by a coroner's jury. If the cause of death is known, the death certificate is signed and no autopsy is needed, but if authorities are uncertain of the conditions leading to death, such as in a suicide or homicide, an autopsy may be indicated.