ScienceAugust 3, 2026

necropsy

NEK-rop-see

Definition

The systematic examination and dissection of a dead body, especially an animal, to determine the cause of death or the extent of disease.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'nekros' (dead body) and 'opsis' (a sight or view). It entered English in the mid-19th century to denote a medical examination of a corpse.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the post-mortem data collected from grizzly bears to determine why they were dying after release, revealing critical information about their physical condition.

Orphaned grizzly cubs released back into the wild rarely make it, but these changes could improve chances drastically

Read the full article ↗

Frontiers

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