A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z
A
Allocation - The system of ensuring that organs and tissues are distributed
fairly to patients who are in need.
B
Blood vessels - The arteries, veins and capillaries through which blood circulates. Blood vessels can be donated and transplanted.
Bone - Dense tissue that forms the skeleton. Bone can be donated and
transplanted.
Bone Marrow - Soft tissue located in the cavities of bones. Bone marrow is the
source of all blood cells. Bone marrow can be donated and transplanted.
Brain Death - Occurs when a persons brain activity stops permanently. It
is impossible to return to life after brain death.
C
Cadaveric donors - Also called, non-living donors, are those who donate their
organs or tissue after they have been declared brain dead.
Connective tissue - Forms the supportive and connective structures of the body.
Cornea - The transparent outer coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and
pupil. Corneas can be donated and transplanted.
D
Donation - Is the act of giving one's organs or tissue to someone else.
E
End-Stage Organ Disease - A disease that leads, ultimately, to functional
failure of an organ. Some examples are emphysema (lungs), cardiomyopathy (heart), and
polycystic kidney disease (kidneys).
End-stage renal disease
(ESRD) - A very serious and life-threatening kidney
disease that minorities suffer much more frequently than do Whites. ESRD is treatable with
dialysis, however, dialysis is costly and can result in a poor quality of life for the
patient. The preferred treatment of ESRD is kidney transplantation. Transplantation offers
the patient "freedom" from dialysis to lead a more normal lifestyle and can
successfully treat ESRD for many years.
H
Heart - A muscular organ that pumps blood through the body. The heart can be
donated and transplanted.
Heart valves - A tissue that prevent the back flow of blood into the heart. The
heart valves can be donated and transplanted.
I
Immunosuppressive Drugs - Chemical agents that cause the human body not to
produce antibodies that normally fight off foreign material in the body. The production of
these antibodies needs to be suppressed in order to permit the acceptance of a donor organ
by the recipient's body.
Intestines - The portion of the digestive track extending from the stomach to
the anus, consisting of upper and lower segments. The intestines can be donated and
transplanted.
K
Kidneys - A pair of organs that maintain proper water and electrolyte balance,
regulate acid-base concentration, and filter the blood of metabolic waste, which is
excreted as urine. Kidneys can be donated and transplanted.
L
Liver - A large reddish-brown organ that secretes bile and is active in the
formation of certain blood proteins and in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins. The liver can be donated and transplanted.
Living Donors - Are persons who donate a kidney, part of a lung or part of a
liver while they are still alive.
Lungs - A pair of two spongy organs that remove carbon dioxide from the blood
and provide it with oxygen. The lungs can be donated and transplanted.
M
Middle-ear - Contains three small bones, or ossicles, known because of their
shapes as the hammer, anvil and stirrup. The ear is the organ of hearing and equilibrium.
The middle-ear can be donated and transplanted.
O
Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO) - Organizations that coordinate activities
relating to organ retrieval (procurement) in a designated area. OPO activities include:
evaluating potential donors, discussing donation with surviving family members, arranging
for the surgical removal and transport of donated organs, and educating the public about
the need for donations.
P
Pancreas - Long, irregularly shaped gland, which lies behind the stomach, and
secretes pancreatic juice into the lower end of the stomach that aids in the digestion of
proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The pancreas can be donated and transplanted.
Procurement - The process of retrieving organs and/or tissue from a
donor.
R
Recipient - A person who receives an organ or tissue transplant.
S
Skin - The tissue forming the external covering of the body. Skin can be donated
and transplanted.
T
Tendon - Tough tissue that connects a muscle with a bone.
Transplant Centers - Hospitals or medical centers that perform organ and/or tissue transplants.
Transplantation - The transfer of cells, tissues, or organs from an area of the
body to another of from one organism to another.
Transplantation, allogeneic (allograft) - Transplantation between genetically
different members of the same species. Nearly all organ and bone marrow transplants are
allografts. These may be between brothers and sisters, parents and children, or between
donors and recipients who are not related to each other.
Transplantation, autologous - Transplantation of an organisms own cell or
tissues; autologous transplantation may be used to repair or replace damaged tissue;
autologous bone marrow transplantation permits the usage of more severe and toxic cancer
therapies by replacing bone marrow damaged by the treatment with marrow that was removed
and stored prior to treatment.
Transplantation, xenogeneic
(xenograft) - Transplantation
between members of different species; for example, the transplantation
of animal organs into humans.
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