Allocation

the action or process of allocating or distributing something.

Allograft

each of two or more alternative forms of a letter of an alphabet or other grapheme. The capital, lowercase, italic, and various handwritten forms of the letter A are allographs.

Blood Vessels

a network of tubular structures that transport blood throughout the body

Brain Death

death that occurs when all functions of the brain, including the brainstem, permanently cease.

Circulatory Death

the irreversible cessation of all circulatory and respiratory functions, which can lead to organ donation after death.

Connective Tissue

a diverse group of tissues that provide support, structure, and protection to the body

Cross-Matching

a laboratory test used to determine if a donor's blood or organ is compatible with a recipient

Deceased Donor

someone who has recently died and whose organs or tissues are used for transplantation after their death

Donation

the making of a gift especially to a charity or public institution

Donor Registry

Ohio Donor Registry, managed by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)

Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA)

proteins found on the surface of most cells in the body

Immunosuppressive Drugs

medications that weaken the immune system by inhibiting its ability to recognize and attack foreign invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, and transplanted organs

Living Donor

a person who donates an organ or part of an organ while they are still alive

National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA)

The National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA), passed in 1984, established the framework for a national organ recovery and allocation system, including the creation of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) to improve organ matching and address the organ donation shortage.

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

techniques used to maintain the viability and function of organs after removal from a donor body, in preparation for transplantation

Organ Procurement

the surgical removal of viable organs or tissues from a deceased or living donor for transplantation into a recipient with end-stage organ failure,

Organ Viability

the ability of an organ to function properly after being removed from a donor and before being transplanted into a recipient,

Recipient

a person or thing that receives or is awarded something.

Rejection

the dismissing or refusing of a proposal, idea, etc.

Tendons

tough, fibrous cords that connect muscles to bones

Tissue

a group of similar cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix that work together to perform a specific function.

Transplant Center

offers leading-edge consultation, treatments, and surgical interventions to patients with a variety of diseases that require transplant surgery.

Waiting List

a list of people who have asked for something that is not immediately available but will be in the future