Autopsy protocol (pathology)

External description
Age, sex, habitus. Rigor et livores mortis.

Head: hair, type of skull.

Face: eyes, orifice discharge, dentition.

Neck: length, width.

Chest, abdomen: symmetry, scars. Abdominal level.

Genital and anal opening: discharge.

Limbs.

Posterior parts of the body.

Opening of the cranial cavity
Soft coverings: traumatic changes, blood supply.

Calva: thickness, traumatic changes.

Dura mater: surface, lne.

Intracranial spaces: contents including venous plexuses.

Brain: size, symmetry, gyrification, vessels. Longitudinal section, ventricles.

Cerebellum: section, cone.

Pons Varoli, medulla oblongata: only deviations.

Skull base, Turkish saddle: only deviations.

Opening of the thoracic and abdominal cavity
Fat layer, location of organs, appearance of intestinal villi, omentum, diaphragm, effusion.

Thoracic organs
Lungs: dimensions, lobes, pleura. Section - lung, parenchyma. Bronchi - branching, coating.

Heart: dimensions, pericardium. Sickle section. Myocardium of left ventricle, right ventricle. Venous and arterial orifices, valves, foramen ovale. Coronary arteries. Aorta including branches.

Tongue, larynx: aspiration, otherwise only abnormalities.

Esophagus: regurgitation, otherwise only abnormalities.

Trachea: plaque.

Thyroid gland: position, size, structure.

Mediastinopulmonary nodes: pigmentation, otherwise only abnormalities.

Abdominal organs
Spleen: surface, size, pulp.

Adrenal glands: size, cortex, marrow.

Kidney: fat capsule, connective tissue, size, parenchyma, pelvis.

Bladder: contents, mucosa.

Prostate: tentative size, consistency, section.

Uterus, cervix, ovaries: age appropriate.

Rectum: contents.

Large and small intestine: contents, mucosa, appendix.

Stomach and duodenum: contents, mucosa.

Gallbladder: size, contents, mucosa.

Bile ducts including Vaters papilla: patency.

Liver: dimensions, surface, section.

Pancreas: position, section.

Vena Portae, cava: only deviations.

Abdominal aorta: atherosclerosis, including branches.

Femoral veins: thrombi.

Spine and skeleton: new trauma, distinct degenerative changes.

Literature

 * BUČEK, Jan, et al. Praktikum z patologie: Pitevní cvičení. 1. vydání. MU Brno, 1994. ISBN 8021007214.
 * BURTON, Julian a Guy RUTTY. The Hospital Autopsy: A Manual of Fundamental Autopsy Practice. 3. vydání. Hodder Arnold, 2010. ISBN 0340965142.