different between necropsy vs dissect

English

Etymology

From necro- +? -opsy.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?k??psi/, /n??k??psi/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n?k??psi/
• Hyphenation: nec?rop?sy

Noun

necropsy (plural necropsies)

1. (medicine) The pathological examination of a corpse, particularly to determine cause of death. [from 19th c.]
   • 1997, Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, Folio Society 2016, p. 255:

     Anatomy theory led to morbid anatomy in necropsy studies pursued by, among others, Johann Wepfer (1620–95) and Théophile Bonet (1620–89), both Swiss.

   • 2011, Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Emperor of all Maladies, Fourth Estate 2011, p. 13:

     During the necropsy, he pored carefully through the body, combing the tissues and organs for signs of an abscess or wound.

Usage notes

• The term necropsy is usually used for animals, with autopsy reserved for human beings.

Synonyms

• autopsy
• post-mortem

Translations

Verb

necropsy (third-person singular simple present necropsies, present participle necropsying, simple past and past participle necropsied)

1. The act of performing a necropsy.

Translations

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dissectus past participle of dissecare (“to cut asunder, cut up”), from dis- (“asunder”) + secare (“to cut”); see section.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??s?kt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /d??s?kt/, /da??s?kt/
• Rhymes: -?kt

Verb

dissect (third-person singular simple present dissects, present participle dissecting, simple past and past participle dissected)

1. (transitive) To study an animal's anatomy by cutting it apart; to perform a necropsy or an autopsy.
2. (transitive) To study a plant or other organism's anatomy similarly.
3. (transitive) To analyze an idea in detail by separating it into its parts.
4. (transitive, anatomy, surgery) To separate muscles, organs, and so on without cutting into them or disrupting their architecture.

   Now dissect the triceps away from its attachment on the humerus.

5. (transitive, pathology) Of an infection or foreign material, following the fascia separating muscles or other organs.

Related terms

• dissection

Translations

Further reading

• dissect in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• dissect in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• dissect at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• cestids