| ORGAN/TISSUE | WHAT IS ITS FUNCTION | HOW DOES A TRANSPLANT HELP | WEBSITE REFERENCE/LINK | ||
| Bone | Structural support of the body. Protection of vital organs such as kidneys, lungs, heart and livers. | Long bones may be used to replace those invaded by cancer. Without such a transplant, the limb may have to be amputated. Smaller sections of bone are used to strengthen areas of a deformed spine and to fill areas where bone has been lost due to conditions that have damaged existing bone, such as dental root canal. | http://www.mtf.org | ||
| Bone Marrow | : Soft bone tissue which is responsible for the production of blood cells and hemoglobin (e.g., hematopoiesis) | Bone marrow can be a life saving treatment for patients with aplastic anemia and immunodeficiencies. Transplants have also helped produce remission in certain types of acute leukemia. Participating a local bone marrow drive may save the life of a friend or stranger. | http://www.marrow.org | ||
| Cartilage | Connective tissue that serves as a structural support in some areas (e.g., the knee) | : Cartilage is used in facial and other reconstructive surgery. | http://www.mtf.org | ||
| Eyes/Corneas | The clear dime-sized tissue found on the front of the eye. Corneas allow light to enter the eye and are necessary for vision to occur. | : Various eye diseases and injuries affect the cornea and cause it to become cloudy or change shape resulting in partial or complete blindness. In many cases, sight can be restored through the transplant of a donated cornea. | http://www.mebtc.org | ||
| Fascia | Fibrous membrane which covers, supports and separate muscle | Restores support, limb and soft tissue repair, reconstructive and facial defect repair | http://www.mtf.org | ||
| Heart | Pumps blood to the body. | Heart transplants provide recipients with a second chance at life. | http://www.americanheart.org | ||
| Kidney | Extracts waste and excess water from the blood. Produces hormones that help to regulate blood pressure. | http://www.nkfm.org | |||
| Liver | : Instrumental in energy regulation, breaking down proteins, and removing wastes from the blood. The liver serves as a large detoxifying factory for our bodies. | : Lifesaving replacement of nonfunctional livers for patients with end-stage liver disease. Because of our lifestyles, the liver has become an increasingly overworked organ. Alcohol plus medicine, even over-the-counter medications, can be a deadly mix for the liver. Experts estimate that more than half of all liver diseases could be prevented if people exercised prevention. | http://www.liverfoundation.org | ||
| Lungs | The organs of respiration. The lungs are easily damaged by cigar and marijuana smoke as they are by cigarette smoke. | The transplant provides lift saving lung replacement for patients with cystic fibrosis, emphysema or other end-stage lung disease. Lungs are extremely delicate and are difficult to transplant. | http://www.lungusa.org | ||
| Pancreas | Secretes enzymes necessary for digestion. Secretes insulin that regulates blood sugar. | Patients with acute pancreatitis (disease of the pancreas) may need a life saving transplant. Replacement of a diseased pancreas dramatically changes the lifestyle of a diabetic patient and can totally eliminate the need for daily insulin injections. | http://www.pancreasfoundation.org | ||
| Skin | The body’s first barrier against dehydration, injury, infection and loss of body heat. | Skin is used as a temporary covering for burn patients until their own new skin can grow in a burned area. It may also be used to fill in deep dermal (skin) defects or for patients with bladder weakness. | http://www.mtf.org | ||
| Small intestine | The upper end of the digestive tract that provides for absorption of the products of digestion. | An intestine transplant is life saving for patients suffering from short bowel syndrome. | http://www.unos.org | ||
| Tendon | A tendon is a tough band of fibrous tissue. The tendon is the structure in the body that connects muscles to bones. | A tendon transplant is utilized to restore mobility in patients who have damaged tendons or joint injuries. Sports injuries of the knee and ankle are usually soft tissue injuries and can be corrected with tendon and ligament transplants. | http://www.mtf.org | ||
| Veins | Blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart. | Saphenous and femoral veins from the legs are used in cardiac bypass surgery for patients who have suffered cardiovascular (heart) disease. | http://www.mtf.org | ||