Origin: Greek prefix auto-
Autopsy has 4 different meanings across 2 categories:
an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death or the changes produced by disease
"The medical team performed an autopsy on the victim to confirm whether the injuries were consistent with the reported fall."
A dissection performed on a cadaver to find possible cause(s) of death.
"The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine if the fatal car accident was actually caused by a pre-existing heart condition."
perform an autopsy on a dead body; do a post-mortem
"The coroner ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death."
To perform an autopsy on.
"The medical examiner will perform an autopsy on the victim to determine the exact cause of death."