dissection

dissection
    n 1: cutting so as to separate into pieces
    2: a minute and critical analysis
    3: detailed critical analysis or examination one part at a time
       (as of a literary work)
    

Dissection \Dis*sec"tion\, n. [Cf. F. dissection.]
   1. The act of dissecting an animal or plant; as, dissection
      of the human body was held sacrilege till the time of
      Francis I.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Fig.: The act of separating or dividing for the purpose of
      critical examination.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Anything dissected; especially, some part, or the whole,
      of an animal or plant dissected so as to exhibit the
      structure; an anatomical so prepared.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Dissection wound}, a poisoned wound incurred during the
      dissection of a dead body.
      [1913 Webster]
    

28 Moby Thesaurus words for "dissection":
      analysis, analyzation, anatomizing, anatomy, assay, assaying,
      breakdown, breaking down, breaking up, breakup, criticism,
      critique, diaeresis, division, docimasy, examination,
      gravimetric analysis, inspection, proximate analysis,
      quantitative analysis, reduction to elements, resolution, review,
      scrutiny, segmentation, semimicroanalysis, separation,
      subdivision