An autopsy is a surgical procedure for the systematic study of a decedent, with careful correlation to the patient's clinical course in life.

Autopsies are performed to determine the effects of disease on a given individual. There are two general categories of autopsies. Autopsies in which the manner of death appears to be natural are called "hospital autopsies" and are granted by the legal next of kin. They are performed to assist the family and physicians who cared for the patient in understanding the disease processes that the patient experienced during life.

The second type of autopsy is called a "medical legal, or forensic, autopsy." In this case, authorization is by statute, and the autopsy is the method to determine cause and manner of death.

Both types of autopsy are performed by a licensed physician, usually a pathologist with training in anatomic or anatomic / forensic pathology. In forensic autopsies, the elected or appointed county officials who comprise the death investigation agency usually have the authority to authorize an autopsy. The autopsy is actually performed by a licensed physician trained in anatomic or anatomic / forensic pathology.

1. External inspection
   
2. Internal inspection
   
3. Dissection, examination of organs
   
4. Analysis of tissue, fluids and other specimens