iii 
THE LAST EXAMINATION 
 
Clamp the gut and start resection 
 to the peritoneal reflection 
 after which you ligate arteries iliac 
Free up rectum, prostate, bladder 
 or vagina for that matter 
 cleanly cut away from pelvis front and back. 

Then return to neck and pharynx 
 incise well above the larynx 
 leaves of diaphragm dissect from wall of chest 
With amazing little traction 
 and a deft aboral action 
 empties body of the viscera and the rest. 

Place the block down leave it prone 
 then examine spinal bone 
 saw a segment and note any scoliosis 
Check trabeculae if brittle 
 are they crushed by pressure little 
 or quite firm from blastic carcinomatosis. 

If the patient is a male 
 you must not forget or fail 
 to now empty both sides of the scrotal sac 
So withdraw spermatic cord 
 and the testis will come forward 
 from the inguinal canal its natural track. 

Look for tumor and fibrosis 
 hydrocele tuberculosis 
 the ability of tubules to be strung 
Epididymis and vas 
 do not miss or overpass 
 whether patient's old or only very young. 

Then it's back to the aorta 
 which you open up in order 
 to assess its surface and to point direction 
Renal arteries expose 
 the adrenals you disclose 
 by suprarenal adipose dissection. 

Free aorta up superior 
 bring esophagus inferior 
 then into basic systems you divide 
This is Rokitansky's way 
 the most popular today 
 but it's up to the prosector to decide. 

Autopsy with prosector and physician 
Anathomia, Mondino da Luzzi, 1495 
engraving 
National Library of Medicine, USA