die
Autopsie
🕵️♀️ What exactly is eine Autopsie?
Die Autopsie (from Greek αὐτοψία autopsía 'the act of seeing for oneself') is a medical or forensic examination of a corpse to determine the cause of death (die Todesursache), the presence or course of a disease, or to gain scientific knowledge. It is sometimes also called Obduktion or Leichenöffnung (literally 'corpse opening').
It is a feminine noun in German, so it's always die Autopsie.
🚨 There are no other articles for this word, so there's no risk of confusion regarding its meaning based on the article.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ie → almost always feminine.
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Autopsie
The word "Autopsie" is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Autopsie |
| Genitive | der | Autopsie |
| Dative | der | Autopsie |
| Accusative | die | Autopsie |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Autopsien |
| Genitive | der | Autopsien |
| Dative | den | Autopsien |
| Accusative | die | Autopsien |
📝 Example Sentences
- Nach dem ungeklärten Todesfall ordnete der Staatsanwalt eine Autopsie an.
(After the unexplained death, the public prosecutor ordered an autopsy.) - Die Ergebnisse der Autopsie werden nächste Woche erwartet.
(The results of the autopsy are expected next week.) - Bei der Autopsie wurden keine Hinweise auf Fremdverschulden gefunden.
(During the autopsy, no evidence of foul play was found.) - Der Gerichtsmediziner führte die Autopsie durch.
(The forensic pathologist performed the autopsy.) - In der medizinischen Forschung spielen Autopsien eine wichtige Rolle zur Untersuchung von Krankheitsverläufen.
(In medical research, autopsies play an important role in studying the progression of diseases.)
🩺 How is "Autopsie" used?
The term "Autopsie" is primarily used in medical and legal/forensic contexts.
- Medical Context: To clarify the cause of death (die Todesursache) in unclear cases, to verify diagnoses, or to research diseases (Krankheiten).
- Forensic Context (Gerichtsmedizin): In cases of suspected crime (Verbrechen) or accidents (Unfälle), to determine the exact cause of death and possible external influence (Fremdeinwirkung). It is often ordered by the public prosecutor (Staatsanwalt) in these situations.
It is a rather formal term. In common parlance, people sometimes talk about "Leichenschau" (viewing of the body), but this isn't quite the same thing (Leichenschau is an external examination, while Autopsie involves internal examination).
The related term Obduktion is often used synonymously, but sometimes emphasizes the medical-scientific aspect more strongly.
🧠 Mnemonics for Autopsie
Article Mnemonic: Think of "the investigation" – in German, "die Untersuchung". Both words are feminine and share a similar formal context. The endings "-ie" and "-ung" are common feminine noun endings in German. So, it's die Autopsie.
Meaning Mnemonic: "Auto" means "self" and "-opsy" relates to "seeing". An Autopsie is literally "seeing for oneself" what happened inside the body after death.
🔄 Synonyms and (No Real) Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Obduktion: Very common synonym, often used in a clinical context.
- Sektion: Also synonymous, often used in pathology.
- Leichenöffnung: Direct description ('corpse opening'), slightly less formal.
- Innere Leichenschau: ('internal body viewing') - A descriptive term highlighting the difference from an external examination.
Antonyms (Opposites)
There isn't a direct antonym. Considered opposites might be:
- Lebenduntersuchung: Examination on a living patient (e.g., Biopsie).
- Natürlicher Tod (ohne Untersuchung): Natural death (without examination) - when the cause of death is clear and no autopsy is performed.
⚠️ Similar but Different Terms
- Biopsie: Removal and examination of tissue from a living body.
- Äußere Leichenschau / Totenschau: External examination of the body without opening it.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der junge Medizinstudent den erfahrenen Pathologen: "Herr Professor, was ist das Wichtigste bei einer Autopsie?"
Der Professor, trocken: "Dass der Patient dabei nicht aufwacht."
Translation:
The young medical student asks the experienced pathologist: "Professor, what's the most important thing during an autopsy?"
The professor, dryly: "That the patient doesn't wake up."
📜 A Short Poem
Stiller Raum, kaltes Licht,
Die Wahrheit sucht, was Stille spricht.
Mit Skalpell, scharf und klar,
Die Autopsie nimmt Schicksal wahr.
Was verborgen, tief im Sein,
Bringt sie ans Licht, macht Rätsel klein.
Translation:
Silent room, cold light,
Truth seeks what silence speaks.
With scalpel, sharp and clear,
The autopsy perceives fate near.
What was hidden, deep inside,
It brings to light, makes riddles subside.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich spreche nicht, doch sag' die Wahrheit klar,
nachdem das Leben längst vergangen war.
Ärzte schauen tief in mich hinein,
um des Todes Ursache zu sein.
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I don't speak, yet I tell the truth clearly,
after life has long since passed.
Doctors look deep inside me,
to find the cause of death's decree.
What am I?
Solution: die Autopsie (the autopsy)
✨ Interesting Facts
- Etymology: The word comes from the Greek αὐτός (autós) 'self' and ὄψις (opsis) 'seeing'. It literally means 'seeing for oneself'.
- History: Early forms of autopsy existed in ancient Egypt and Greece, but modern pathological autopsy developed mainly in the 19th century with researchers like Rudolf Virchow.
- Frequency: The frequency of clinical autopsies has declined in many countries, partly due to improved imaging techniques during life and cost reasons. However, forensic autopsies (forensische Autopsien) remain standard practice in cases of unnatural death.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Autopsie?
The German word "Autopsie" is always feminine. The correct article is die Autopsie. It refers to the medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death (autopsy).