Autopsy

Article:http://www.bxscience.edu/publications/forensics/articles/medicalexaminer/f-medi02.htm
Autopsy Procedure

Jay Stahl-Herz


The routine medical autopsy follows a set procedure toensure the proper examination of a corpse. Before the autopsy can begin, several steps must be taken. The body must be measured and weighed and placed on an autopsy table. The autopsy table is awaist-high aluminum fixture that is plumbed for running water and has several faucets and spigots to facilitate washing away all the blood that is released during the procedure. The autopsy table is a slantedtray (for drainage) with raised edges (to keep blood and fluids from flowing onto the floor). After the body is positioned, the pathologist places a "body block" under the patient's back which causesthe chest to protrude outward and the arms and neck to fall back, thus allowing the maximum exposure of the torso for the incisions to be made.
The first cut known as the "Y" incision is made. Thearms of the Y extend from the front of each shoulder to the bottom end of the breastbone. The tail of the Y extends from the sternum to the pubic bone and typically deviates to avoid the navel. Theincision is very deep, extending to the rib cage on the chest, and completely through the abdominal wall below that. The skin from this cut is peeled back, with the top flap pulled over the face. The ribsare then sawed off to expose the organs.
Before all the organs are exposed, the pericardial sac (pectorals) and the abdominal muscle in the chest must be cut open and removed. This will exposethe organs underneath. The most common way to remove the organs is known as the Rokitansky method. Organs are removed by cutting off their connections to the body. The organs in the GI tract areusually removed as one until further analysis is done. It is at this time that the brain is removed. A lateral incision is made in the brain, cutting the connection from the base of the brain to the...