Re: [HAPS-L] autopsy vs. necropsy?

[Ken Saladin <ksaladin@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 02:47 PM 3/27/2007, you wrote:
> HAPSTERS:
>
> Does anyone have the definitive (yeh, right:) definition of these
> terms?  My (old) Stedman's says the definition of necropsy is
> autopsy.  Many other sources make the human / animal
> distinction.  FWIW - various medical dictionary sites seem split as
> to whether necropsy is simply for dead bodies, as opposed to dead animal
> bodies.  (My wife has a strong opinion - but she is a
> veterinarian:)
>
> Any and all input from this learned group would be appreciated.
>
> John Moore
> Professor - Anatomy, Pathophysiology, Forensics


I just shelled out about $1200 getting updated editions of many of
my A&P reference books, including all of my medical dictionaries, so
I was able to check the newest editions of the Stedman's, Dorland's,
Mosby's, and Taber's dictionaries on this. All of them seem to regard
autopsy and necropsy as absolutely synonymous, but they all
prefer autopsy. In all cases, they have the longest entry at that
word, while the necropsy entry is much shorter and in some cases nothing
more than "see autopsy" or "syn. autopsy". All of the
autopsy entries also have a "syn. necropsy" or
equivalent notation.

The American Heritage Dictionary follows the same pattern and offers
nothing under necropsy except to see autopsy; Merriam
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, however, says under necropsy,
"esp : an autopsy performed on an animal."

Ken