Autopsy:

Virchows Technique
Prepared by Group III

WHAT IS AUTOPSY?
An autopsy is performed to achieve one or more of the
following objectives:
To identify the body or record characteristics that may assist
in identifying the deceased.
To determine the cause of death or, in the newborn, whether
live birth occurred.
To determine the mode of dying and time of death, where
necessary and possible.
To demonstrate all external and internal abnormalities,
malformations and diseases.

 To detect, describe and record any external and

internal injuries.
To obtain samples for any ancillary investigations.
To obtain photographs or retain samples for
evidential or teaching use.
To provide a full written report and expert
interpretation of the findings.
To restore the body to the best possible cosmetic
condition before the release

What is autopsy?
An examination of the organs of the
dead body to determine the cause of
death or to study the pathologic
changes present.
There are four principal autopsy
techniques namely:
Technique of R. Virchow
Technique of C. Rokitansky
Technique of A. Ghon
Technique of M. Letulle

What is Virchows
technique of autopsy?

HISTORY
Rudolf Ludwig Carl
Virchow
Father of modern
pathology
First to develop the
systematic method of
autopsy.

Virchows technique
A technique of removing organs one at a time. This
technique is good for demonstrating pathological
change in individual organs, especially in high- risk
autopsies

ORDER OF EXAMINATION
VIRCHOWS TECHNIQUE

HEAD

THORACIC (CERVICAL)

ABDOMINAL ORGANS

ATTENTION:
Next slides are photographs of
actual autopsy so be mentally,
emotionally and physically
prepared.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION
It consist of:
1. Incising the body
2. Inspecting the various organs
3. Examining the cavities systematically
4. Weighing and Measuring the organs
5. Checking for any pathology
6. Putting all the organs back in and padding
7. Suturing the body

Incising the body

To expose the heart, lungs and abdominal
organs the prosector(the person performing
the autopsy) will use the MODIFIED Y
SHAPED INCISION.

Incising the body

Other ways of incision
1. I shaped Incision: It is a straight line incision extending
from the chin to the symphysis pubis.
2. Y Shaped Incision: This type of incision starts near the
acromian process and progresses downwards towards
the xiphoid process. The incision is then extended till the
symphysis pubis. Also, a similar incision is made on the
opposite side of the body.
3. Intermastoid incision. this type of incision is made from
behind each ear across the top of the head that allows
examination of brain

Inspecting the various organs

HEAD
The neck is extended by placing a wooden block under the
shoulders.
Fix head using a head rest.
Intermastoidal incision is made i.e. from the mastoid
process behind one ear to the vertex and again to the
mastoid process of the other ear.
Scalp flap is reflected forward to the superciliary ridge and
backwards to the occipital protuberance. nd back to the
center of the forehead. the base of the other mastoid
process occipital protuberance base of the mastoid process
With the help of a saw, V shaped cut is made so that the
skull fits back correctly after autopsy.

 This V shaped cut

passes through: the
center of the forehead

THORAX
Chest muscles are dissected away.
Chest is opened by cutting the costal
cartilages with the help of a cartilage knife.
In case of elderly subjects, the costal
cartilage may be calcified, hence, a bone
saw or a rib shear is used to cut it out.
Thereafter, both the sternoclavicular joints
are disarticulated and the chest is opened. 1.

 ABDOMEN
5 cm above the symphysis pubis the rectus muscles are
divided and a small cut is made.
Middle and the index fingers are then inserted and spread
in a V shape.
Sharp braded knife is inserted between them and the
peritoneum is cut up to the xiphoid process.
Firstly, inspection is done and if any damage, free fluid,
perforations etc. are seen then these are noted.
Also, note should be made about the abnormalities,
positions, abdominal organs, adhesions, pathology (if any),
injuries etc.

Examining the cavities

systematically

 Brain
Brain will deteriorate easily when there is no supply of blood in order
prevent we must do fixation:
1.
2.

The freezing
The prefusion

Spinal cord
Thorax
Heart
Lungs
Neck
Abdomen
Stomach
Intestine
Liver
Spleen
pancreas
Kidney
bladder
Prostate and testes

to

Weighing and Measuring the organs

Checking for any pathology

Example: Acute mycordial infarction, old myocardial
infarction, brain stroke, renal cell carcinoma.

Acute Myocardial Infarction

Dark area
shows
beginning
of healing

increased
blood
supply
Lightcolored
tissue
indicates
a
myocardi
al
infarction

Normal
fatty
tissue

Heart Cross Section

Old Myocardial Infarctions

Scar
tissue
from an
infarct at
least two
weeks
old.

Brain Stroke

Hemorrhage

Brain Cross Section (Vertical)

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Kidney
Tumor

Putting all the organs back in and padding

Body cavities should be cleaned and made free from blood,
fluids etc.
Organs are placed back in and excess space is packed
with cotton/cloth etc. (esp. in the pelvis and the neck
regions.)

Suturing the body

Dissection flaps are closed and sutured with thin twine.
Skull is filled with cotton and absorbent material and the
skull cap is placed back in and the scalp is stitched.

What a magnificent body, how I should

like to see it on the dissecting table.
Ivan Turgenev, Father and Sons
Thank you