Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
autograft
Pronunciation: AW-toh-graft
A skin graft taken from the patient's own body to cover a burn wound.
Full Definition
An autograft is a skin transplantation procedure where healthy skin is harvested from an unburned area of the patient's own body and transplanted to cover a burn wound. This is the gold standard for burn wound coverage as it eliminates the risk of rejection since the tissue is genetically identical to the recipient. Autografts are typically harvested from areas such as the thigh, back, or scalp using a dermatome.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from allograft (from another person) and xenograft (from another species).
In Context
- "The surgeon recommended an autograft to close the extensive burn wound on the patient's arm." — Surgical consultation note
- "Donor site healing was excellent following autograft harvest from the anterior thigh." — Post-operative report
Also known as
autogenous graft
autologous graft
Contrasted with
allograft
xenograft
Don't confuse with
allograft
isograft