HISTOPATHOLOGY SEMINAR

STUDENT HANDOUT 1_ AUTOPSY

L.J. LANGAMAN

I. AUTOPSY
Examination of the body of a dead person
Also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy or ________________
From Greek word “autopsia” meaning “_______________________________________”
Necropsy – “to see a dead body”

II. PURPOSE
- to determine __________________________ (primary reason)
- to identify or characterize the extent of disease states that the person may have
had
- to determine whether a particular medical or surgical treatment has been effective
- In academic institutions, autopsies sometimes are also requested for teaching and

research purposes.


III. TYPES OF AUTOPSY

Forensic
Medico-legal cases
Result is either: Natural, __________________, __________________

___________________
Education purposes, done in hospital or school

_______________
Do not fall in above categories

IV. HISTORICAL PERSONALITIES IN AUTOPSY

1. _______________________________________–considered as the first great autopsist.

2. Karl Von Rokitansky – Supervised 2 autopsy per day for 45 years

- Head of Pathology Institute of ______________________________-Vienna
- No microscopy and history of patients
3. ______________________ – German pathologist, supports theories with microscopic
features and dictates that cellular pathology is the basis of disease process
4. ________________________ – Studied with Rokitansky and Virchow and relied heavily
on autopsy for his research. Later he became the leader in Pathology in Canada
and the US
Page 1 of 3
No part of this material will be reproduced, stored, transmitted, or disseminated in any form, part or whole, by any means without prior written permission.SPC.ljbl

 V. IN ANY SOMATIC DEATH, the following are observed:
i. Primary changes:
Respiratory failure – cessation of breathing
Circulatory failure – cessation of blood flow
Nervous failure –______________________ response

ii. Secondary changes:

Algor mortis - cooling; first secondary demonstrable change
Rigor mortis - stiffening due to lack of ATP
- from head & neck downwards, occurs ________ hours
after death while head and neck stiffness persists 3-4 days.
Livor mortis - purplish discoloration/lividity of skin due to hemostatis
Postmortem clot – RBC separates from fluid forming huge “thrombi”
Desiccation – corneal drying & wrinkling of the anterior eye chamber
_____________ - invasion of microorganisms that feed on dead organic
Autolysis - self-digestion of cells due to lysosomal release

*Before doing an autopsy, somatic death must be established and consent must be
obtained from responsible party or kin before initiating the procedure.

VI. CONSENT FOR AUTOPSY in order of preference

1. _____________________
2. Parent/s
3. _______________________
4. Nearest kin – siblings/degree of consanguinity rules
Historeviewstudenthandout. L.J. LANGAMAN

5. Friends / affairs
*Presence of Court Order over-rules all above consents

VII. MOST COMMON AUTOPSY TECHNIQUES

a. Technique of Virchow
b. Technique of ____________
c. Technique of Ghon
d. Technique of M. Letulle

VIII. RESTRICTED AUTOPSY

- Autopsy of Anus and Vagina

- Autopsy of Surgical wounds

- Needle autopsy

IX. PROHIBITED AUTOPSY

- Mutilation
- _____________________
Page 2 of 3
No part of this material will be reproduced, stored, transmitted, or disseminated in any form, part or whole, by any means without prior written permission.SPC.ljbl

 X. Sample Autopsy procedure which may vary from hospital to hospital

1. Consent is obtained
2. Body is prepared and identified
3. Medical staff, residents and paramedical staff will assist
4. Repeat identification in the presence of coroner/pathologist
5. Body block is positioned at the ________________________________________
6. Skin incision is made (Y, T, U shaped) to expose the ribs
7. Breast plate is removed
8. Blood clots are observed: post-mortem clot vs. _________________________
9. Blockage and food content in stomach and esophagus are noted
10. Organs are examined, described and weighed
11. Sample tissues are taken for tissue processing and permanent section
12. Organs and breast plate are returned in place
13. Incision are stitched
14. Body is washed clean and returned to mortuary ref

Historeviewstudenthandout. L.J. LANGAMAN

XI. Average weights of internal organs
(Male, 70kg, healthy with sedentary lifestyle)
u Brain: 1150-1400 gm
u Thyroid: 10-50 gm
u Right lung: 300-400gm
u Left lung: 250-300 gm
u Heart: ______________ gm
u Liver: 1100-1600 gm
u Spleen: 60-300gm
u Adrenals: 4gm each

Page 3 of 3
No part of this material will be reproduced, stored, transmitted, or disseminated in any form, part or whole, by any means without prior written permission.SPC.ljbl