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| The process of determining how organs are distributed. Allocation includes the system of policies and guidelines which ensure that organs are distributed in an equitable, ethical and medically sound manner. |
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| The arteries, veins, and capillaries through which blood circulates. Blood vessels can be donated and transplanted. |
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| Dense tissue that forms the skeleton and supports the body. Bone can be donated and transplanted. |
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| A thick liquid substance found in the body's hollow bones, such as leg, arm and hip bones. Marrow consists of cells that develop into blood cells (platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells). Marrow for transplant is usually collected from the pelvic bone. |
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| Brain death occurs when the brain is totally and irreversibly non-functional. Brain death is caused by not enough blood supply of oxygen which causes the brain cells to die. |
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| Also called non-living or deceased donors, are those who donate their organs or tissue after they have died. |
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| Forms the supportive and connective structures of the body, such as tendons, ligaments cartilage, bone and fascia (the silver colored covering of muscles). Connective tissue surrounds many organs. |
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| The transparent outer covering of the eye's iris and pupil. Corneas can be donated and transplanted to restore sight for people with damaged corneas. |
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| The act of giving organ(s), tissue(s), or blood to someone else without compensation. |
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| A disease that leads, ultimately, to permanent, complete failure of an organ to function. Some examples are emphysema (lungs), cardiomyopathy (heart), and polycystic kidney disease (kidneys). |
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| End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) |
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| The complete or almost complete failure of the kidneys to function. The kidneys can no longer remove wastes, concentrate urine, and regulate many other important body functions. |
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| A muscular organ that pumps blood through the body. The heart can be donated and transplanted. |
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| Prevent the back flow or leakage of blood as it is being pumped through the chambers inside of the heart. Heart valves can be donated and transplanted. |
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| 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. See also Anti-Rejection Medicine. |
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| The portion of the digestive tract extending from the stomach to the anus, consisting of the stomach, the upper segment (small intestine) and lower segment (large intestine.) The intestines can be donated and transplanted. |
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| A pair of organs that maintain proper water and electrolyte balance, regulate acid-base concentration, and filter metabolic waste which is excreted as urine. Kidneys can be donated by deceased and living donors to be transplanted. |
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| 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, like the kidneys, assists in the removal of waste and toxins from the blood stream. The liver can be donated by deceased donors, and a liver lobe (section) can be provided by a living donor to be transplanted. The donor's liver will grow to full size, and the transplanted lobe will too. |
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| A person who donates an organ or tissue while alive. |
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| The organs that enable breathing to take place, providing life-sustaining oxygen to the body and its organs. Air is inhaled into the lungs and oxygen in the air is exchanged for carbon dioxide which is then exhaled. The exchange happens in the blood as it circulates through the sponge-like lung tissue. The lungs can be donated and transplanted. A lung lobe can be donated by a live donor. |
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| portion of the ear internal to the eardrum, and external to the oval window of the cochlea. The mammalian middle ear contains three ossicles, which couple vibration of the eardrum into waves in the fluid and membranes of the inner ear. |
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| Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO) |
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Definition
| Local organizations throughout the U.S. designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are responsible for increasing the number of registered donors in their service areas, and for coordinating the donation process when actual donors become available. |
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| Long, irregularly shaped gland that lies behind the stomach. Some glands in the pancreas secrete insulin. Pancreas transplants give patients with diabetes a chance to become independent of insulin injections. |
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| The surgical procedure of removing an organ, corneas or other tissue(s) from a donor. |
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| In the context of organ and tissue transplantation, this is the patient receiving the donated organ or tissue. |
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| This is the largest organ of the body and has several different functions (e.g., protection from infection, fluid balance, cooling). Skin grafts can save the life a burn victim and can provide severely scarred individuals with a better quality of life. |
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| A tough, flexible band of fibrous tissue that connects muscles to bones. |
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| Hospitals that perform organ and or tissue transplants |
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| The transfer of cells (eg. stem cells), tissue, or organs from one person to another. |
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| Transplantation, Allogenic (allograft) |
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| Transplantation between genetically different members of the same species (not identical twins) |
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| Transplantation, Autologous |
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| Receiving a transplant of one's own cell or tissues. |
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| An organ or tissue transplanted into a human from a non-human animal. |
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