Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
allograft
Skin graft obtained from another human donor, used as temporary coverage for burn wounds.
Full Definition
A skin graft harvested from a human donor (living or cadaveric) and transplanted to a burn patient. Allografts serve as temporary biological dressings to protect the wound bed and reduce fluid loss while the patient heals or awaits autograft placement. They are eventually rejected by the immune system but provide crucial short-term wound coverage in extensive burns where insufficient donor sites exist for immediate autografting.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from autograft (patient's own skin) and xenograft (animal tissue).
In Context
- "The surgical note indicated that allograft placement was performed to provide temporary coverage until adequate autograft donor sites became available." — Surgical report
- "Patient education materials should explain that allograft serves as a biological bandage rather than permanent skin replacement." — Patient education document
Also known as
homograft
cadaver graft
Contrasted with
autograft
xenograft
Don't confuse with
autograft
heterograft