Word Smith: Autopsy
The word autopsy originates from the Ancient Greek word autopsia which translates literally to “seeing with one’s own eyes.” It is a combination of autos (“self”) and opsis (“sight” or “view”), originally meaning personal observation.[1]
How did we get to the meaning we understand change over time?
The term AUTOPSY has evolved. Originally it had nothing to do with the examination of a dead body. It was used in ancient times for eyewitness accounts. Its medical usage, which describes the dissection of a corpse to determine the cause of death, began to appear in the 17th century. Around 1670s the French used the word (autopsie) for the viewing of the body, which eventually passed directly into English usage. Historically, the term expanded from a general concept of verification through personal witness to its current, specialized definition of a post-mortem examination.
Today, the word refers to a specific surgical procedure performed by a pathologist to determine the cause, manner, and mode of death through a thorough examination of the corpse. It involves inspecting external and internal organs, often used in criminal investigations, cases of sudden death, or for medical research.
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Henry E. Hooper 