Organ
Allocation
the action or process of allocating or distributing something.
Allograft
a transplant of tissue (like bone, ligaments, or heart valves) from one person to another of the same species, but who is not an identical twin.
Blood Vessels
A tube through which the blood circulates in the body.
Brain death
Circulatory Death
the irreversible cessation of all circulatory and respiratory functions
Connective Tissue
Tissue that supports, protects, and gives structure to other tissues and organs in the body.
Cross-Matching
test the compatibility of (a donor's and a recipient's blood or tissue).
Deceased Donor
someone whose organs or tissues are donated for transplantation after their death, either after brain death or cardiac death, and whose family has given consent for the donation
Donation
the action of donating something.
Donor Registry
a confidential electronic database where individuals can record their decision to become an organ and tissue donor
Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA)
proteins, or markers, found on the surface of most cells in the body that help the immune system distinguish between "self" and "non-self" cells
Immunosuppressive Drugs
medications used to suppress or reduce the activity of the immune system
Living Donor
a person who donates an organ or part of an organ to someone in need of a transplant while they are still alive, most commonly a kidney or part of a live
National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA)
The National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA), passed in 1984, established a framework for a national organ recovery and allocation system, including the creation of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), and prohibits the sale of human organs.
Organ Donation
the act of voluntarily donating one or more organs from a living or deceased person to another person in need of an organ transplant.
Organ Preservation
the techniques and methods used to maintain the viability of organs outside of the body, from the point of retrieval to implantation, ensuring they can function effectively after transplantation.
Organ Procurement
the process of surgically removing organs from a donor for the purpose of transplanting them into another person (recipient).
Organ Viability
the ability of an organ to function and survive outside the body for a sufficient period to allow for transplantation.
Recipient
receiving or capable of receiving something.
Rejection
the dismissing or refusing of a proposal, idea, etc.
Tendons
a fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone.
Tissue
a group of similar cells and their intercellular material (extracellular matrix) that are organized to perform a specific function.
Transplant Center
a healthcare facility that performs organ transplants and provides specialized medical and surgical care for transplant patients.
Waiting List
a list of people waiting for something