Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

What is the removal of tissues from a dead body?

1. Operation

2. Autopsy

3. Biopsy

4. Surgery

The correct answer is: Autopsy

The removal of tissues from a dead body is referred to as an autopsy. An autopsy, also known as a post-mortem examination, is a thorough examination performed by a pathologist to determine the cause of death and to assess any disease or injury that might be present. This procedure often involves the dissection of various organs and the collection of tissue samples for further analysis. Understanding the context of an autopsy is essential, as it serves both legal and medical purposes, helping to provide clarity in circumstances surrounding unexplained or suspicious deaths. The information gathered can contribute to medical knowledge and the understanding of how certain diseases progress. In contrast, the other terms listed have different meanings. An operation generally refers to a surgical procedure performed on a living individual to treat a condition, a biopsy involves the removal of tissue for examination but is conducted on living patients to diagnose diseases, and surgery is a broader term that encompasses any medical procedure involving an incision or intervention. Thus, autopsy specifically denotes the examination of tissues from a deceased individual.