What is a biopsy best described as?

A biopsy is best described as the examination of tissue removed from a living organism. This procedure involves taking a small sample of cells or tissues from a specific area of the body to be analyzed, usually to diagnose diseases, such as cancer, or to assess the nature of a lesion. The key aspect of a biopsy is that it is performed on living tissue, allowing pathologists to obtain critical information about the presence of disease and to evaluate the characteristics of the tissue.

The other options do not accurately define what a biopsy is. While removal of organs for analysis is a more invasive procedure and is not typically referred to as a biopsy, it resembles the process of a biopsy in the sense of tissue analysis but involves larger samples and is not the standard practice for many diagnostic needs. A type of blood test focuses on analyzing components within the blood rather than tissue, and analysis of bodily fluids pertains to other diagnostic tests unrelated to tissue examination. Thus, the defining characteristic of a biopsy is its focus on living tissue and its role in diagnosing health conditions.