MedFriendlyTM
zoograftTM

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Google
 
Web MedFriendly.com

Zoograft
A tissue from an animal that is transplanted (transferred) to a human. An example is when a heart valve from a pig is used to replace a damaged human heart valve. This can be done because a pig's inner body structure is similar to that of humans. A valve is a natural structure or man-made device in a passageway, tube, vessel, or hollow organ that allows fluid or partly fluid contents to travel in one direction, but closes to prevent the flow of those contents in the opposite direction.

The difference between a zoograft and a xenograft is that a xenograft is a tissue that is transferred from one species of animal to another species. So whereas a zoograft always means a transplant from an animal to a human, a xenograft does not always mean this, although it can mean this. For example, a xenograft can also be a tissue transplant from a pig to a gorilla. A zoograft is also known as an animal graft and a zooplastic graft. Zoograft comes from the Greek word "zoon" meaning "animal," and the Greek word "grapheion" meaning "a writing instrument." Put the words together and you have "animal writing instrument." The reason for this is because in a pencil-shaped instrument is used during grafting.

Back to main page

Contact MedFriendly.com


Use of MedFriendly is subject to reading this disclaimer & the terms and conditions.