autopsy
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autopsy
The medical examination of a corpse to determine the cause of death and clarify other medical questions. Also referred to as a post-mortem examination.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft ordnete eine Obduktion an, um Fremdverschulden auszuschließen.
The public prosecutor's office ordered an autopsy to rule out foul play.
'Obduktion' (autopsy) is often used with specific verbs. An official body can 'anordnen' (order) or 'beantragen' (request) an autopsy, while doctors 'durchführen' (perform) it. The result of the examination then 'ergibt' (reveals) the cause of death.
Die Polizei hat eine Obduktion des Leichnams angeordnet.
The police ordered an autopsy of the body.
This word belongs to the technical language of medicine and law. You mainly find it in official reports, news, or crime novels.
Im Polizeibericht wurde das Ergebnis der Obduktion festgehalten.
The result of the autopsy was recorded in the police report.
The word 'Obduktion' (autopsy) appears almost exclusively in the context of death and its investigation. Typical signal words in its surroundings are 'Todesursache' (cause of death), 'Leiche' (corpse), 'Gerichtsmedizin' (forensic medicine), and 'Staatsanwaltschaft' (public prosecutor's office).
Die Gerichtsmedizin wird die Obduktion morgen früh durchführen.
Forensic medicine will perform the autopsy tomorrow morning.
section / autopsy
Sektion and Obduktion can both refer to the medical examination of a corpse to determine the cause of death. Obduktion unambiguously names this procedure. Sektion is also possible, but outside a medical context it can also mean a department or section.
Zur Klärung der Todesursache führte die Ärztin eine Obduktion durch.
To determine the cause of death, the doctor performed an autopsy.
Zur Klärung der Todesursache führte die Ärztin eine Sektion durch.
To determine the cause of death, the doctor performed an autopsy.
