vivisection

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
vivisection/vɪvɪˈsekʃn/

▶noun

• 1 the practice of operating on living animals for the purpose of scientific research (used by those opposed to such work).

• 2 ruthlessly sharp and detailed criticism or analysis.

– derivatives
vivisect verb,
vivisectionist noun & adjective,
vivisector noun.

– origin C18: from L. vivus ‘living’, on the pattern of dissection.