The term "biopsy" was introduced into medical terminology in 1879 by Ernest Besnier. The first diagnostic biopsy in Russia was performed in 1875 by M. M. Rudnev. It is possible to make out three stages in more than 100 year history of the method development: an occasional use of histologic procedure involving living organs and tissues accessible for observation and study (approximately until the late 19th century); restricted application of biopsy (until the mid-20th century); present stage at which the method is widely adopted and its use is general and total (with respect to human organism) not only in oncology but practically in all clinical specialties. Kinds of biopsy, excisional and incisional, are discussed as are problems of hazardousness that arise in excising body tissue for analysis in a biopsy, difficulties the pathoanatomist is faced with in interpreting histopathological preparations, reasons for faulty interpretation or failure to account for the findings, sources of error, future developments and applications. Techniques designed for getting biopsies from the heart and lungs are described, along with their diagnostic potentialities.