Grafts and Related Terminology
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Transplantation:
Act or process of transferring something from one part or individual to another.
Transplant:
Something that is transferred from one part or individual to another.
Graft (GF):
Non-living material or living tissue used for implantation or transplantation to replace a diseased part or compensate for a defect.
Gingival graft (GF/G):
Gingiva or gingiva-like tissue (e.g., from the hard palate) used to replace gingiva in a gingival defect.
Connective tissue graft (GF/CT):
Connective tissue from a keratinized mucosa (e.g., from the hard palate) placed in a gingival defect and which is partially or completely covered with gingiva and/or alveolar mucosa in the recipient bed.
Mucosal graft (GF/M)
Mucosa used to take place of a removed piece of mucosa or cover a mucosal defect.
Bone graft (GF/B):
A surgical procedure by which bone or a bone substitute is used to take place of a removed piece of bone or bony defect.
Cartilage graft (GF/C):
Cartilage used to to take the place of a removed piece of bone or fill a bony defect.
Skin graft (GF/S):
Skin used to take place of a removed piece of skin/mucosa or skin/mucosa defect.
Venous graft (GF/V):
A vein used to take place of a removed segment of artery/vein or arterial/venous defect.
Nerve graft (GF/N):
A nerve used to take place of a removed segment of nerve or nerve defect.
Fat graft (GF/F):
Adipose tissue used to provide volume to a defect or to prevent ingrowth of other tissues into the defect.
Autograft:
Tissue transferred from one area to another area of the animal’s own body.
Isograft:
Tissue transferred between genetically identical animals.
Allograft:
Tissue transferred between genetically dissimilar animals of the same species.
Xenograft:
Tissue transferred between animals of different species.
Particulate graft:
A graft containing equally or variably-sized particles.
Full-thickness graft:
A graft consisting of the full thickness of tissue.
Partial-thickness (split-thickness) graft:
A graft consisting of a portion of the thickness of a tissue.
Mesh graft:
A type of partial-thickness graft in which multiple small incisions have been made to increase stretching and flexibility of the graft.
Composite graft:
A graft composed of at least two different tissues, e.g., skin-muscle-and-bone graft.
Implant (IMP):
Something inserted into or applied onto living tissue.
Implantation:
The act or process of inserting something into or applying something onto living tissue.