front 1 Allocation | back 1 the action or process of allocating or distributing something. |
front 2 Allograft | back 2 a tissue or organ transplant from a human donor to a recipient of the same species who is not an identical twin |
front 3 Brain Death | back 3 irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem |
front 4 Circulatory Death | back 4 occurs when organs are recovered for transplant after the irreversible cessation of heart and breathing functions |
front 5 Connective Tissue | back 5 a fundamental, widespread tissue type in the body that supports, anchors, and links other tissues and organs |
front 6 Cross-Matching | back 6 the final, essential pre-transfusion compatibility test, often referred to as a major crossmatch, that mixes donor red blood cells with recipient plasma to detect antibodies and prevent severe transfusion reactions. |
front 7 Deceased Donor | back 7 a person who has recently passed away—typically declared brain dead or, less commonly, dead by cardiac criteria—and whose organs or tissues are recovered for transplantation with consent. |
front 8 Donor Registry | back 8 A donor registry is a secure, confidential database that records an individual's legal consent to donate organs, eyes, and tissues after death. |
front 9 Immunosuppressive Drugs | back 9 medications that inhibit immune system activity to prevent organ transplant rejection, treat autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), and manage severe allergies. |
front 10 Living Donor | back 10 a safe, voluntary process where a living person donates an organ—most commonly a kidney or part of the liver—to someone needing a transplant. |
front 11 National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) | back 11 Passed in 1984, the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) established the legal framework for organ donation in the U.S., specifically outlawing the sale of human organs and establishing the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). It authorized the creation of a national, equitable system for sharing organs, managed under federal contract. |
front 12 Organ Donation | back 12 the process of surgically transferring healthy organs (heart, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines) or tissues (corneas, skin, tendons, bone) from a donor to a recipient in need. |
front 13 Organ Preservation | back 13 static cold storage and machine perfusion |
front 14 Organ Procurement | back 14 An organ procurement organization (OPO) is a non-profit entity designated by the federal government to manage the entire process of deceased organ donation within a specific geographic region. They serve as the "front line," bridging the gap between donor hospitals and transplant centers to facilitate life-saving transplants. |
front 15 Organ Viability | back 15 the functional survival of organs outside the body for transplantation |
front 16 Recipient | back 16 a person or thing that receives or is awarded something. |
front 17 Rejection | back 17 the painful, universal experience of being dismissed or excluded, often causing feelings of inadequacy, shame, or social anxiety. |
front 18 Tendons | back 18 tough, fibrous, and inelastic bands of collagen tissue that connect muscle to bone, facilitating joint movement and absorbing shock |
front 19 Tissue | back 19 a group of similar cells and extracellular matrix working together to perform specific functions |
front 20 Transplant Center | back 20 A transplant center is a specialized hospital unit or facility that performs organ transplants, including evaluation, surgery, and post-operative care. These centers are defined by their ability to provide comprehensive care for transplant recipients, must be Medicare-approved, and hold membership in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) |
front 21 Waiting List | back 21 a managed queue for limited services, housing, or admissions |