Forensic Autopsy -- Key Terms

Algor Mortis

The cooling of the body after death.

Autopsy

Examination of a body to determine the cause of death

Coroner

Elected official who can do autopsy and doesn’t need a college degree.

Decomposition

Deterioration or Decay of a body

Death Certificate

Legal documents that states how and when a person dies.

Diener

Assistant to the person who does the autopsy.

Formalin

A solution that is used as a preservative for body or tissue

Histology

The study of tissue

Gross anatomy

Anatomy that views macroscopic structures of tissues and organs.

Hypostasis

Act of the pooling/settling of blood.

Infarction

A blockage of an artery/vessel that leads to death.

Medical Examiner

Legally performs autopsys and have a medical degree.

Morgue

Where dead bodies are stored before the next steps.

Pathologist

A doctor that studies diseases of tissue

Petechiae

Popped blood vessels/bruises on the skin.

Prosector

Anybody that can do an autopsy.

Rokitansky Method

A method of autopsy where the entire block of organs are removed at one time.

Stryker Saw

A saw that spins that helps get through the skull to have access to the brain.

Toe Tag

A tag that is attached to the toe that helps with identification.

Toxicology

The study of poisons.

Virchow method

A method of autopsy where one organ is removed at a time.