People horrified after learning that one body part is always removed during an autopsy

While it's not something any of us have to live through unless we're the one carrying it out, autopsies are still not a pleasant affair.

They can be a very useful way to figure out how someone has passed away.

Many pathologists who report to coroners' offices in the UK may try to avoid doing a full autopsy if they can for the sake of the deceased's family.

Instead they can use tools and techniques like CT and MRI scans or blood and tissue samples as a way to get the information they need as unintrusively as possible.

But unfortunately it is sometimes still necessary to carry out an autopsy, and one aspect of this has people feeling very squeamish indeed.

There are many factors when carrying out an autopsy - and it's something which fills people with a certain morbid curiosity.

Autopsy technician from the US G Dubya goes by the handle big_led73 on TikTok, where he has some 2.3 million followers interested in his peek behind the curtain into what lies beyond for us, or at least our mortal remains.

And one part of the process has people very unsettled.

It's concerning piercings, and one kind of piercing in particular.

Obviously these might be something which could be relevant to a given autopsy, and some people had questions about what happens to them after we're gone.

For example, some people might specifically want their piercings kept in after they die.

Dubya explained that for most of them, they get left in with one notable exception.

And there is a very good reason for this particular kind of piercing to be left in.

So which is it?

He explained: "The only one that I take out is your tongue ring."

And it's not just the piercing that comes out.

He explained: "I remove your tongue during an autopsy – we need to make sure you didn’t bite down on it, make sure you don’t have drugs in the back of your throat.

"So if you have a tongue ring, that one comes out, but nipples, nose, ears, eyebrows, private parts..."

All of these ones get to stay in your body after you've gone, and will probably still be there long after your body itself has gone.

People had a lot to say.

One posted: "Can you give me extra piercings? All the ones I couldn’t afford while alive?"

Another said: "Wait! what? everyone's tongue is removed"

A third asked a question they may not want the answer to, writing: "Okay but how exactly do you take the tongue out? I’m intrigued."

Do you really want to know the answer to that?