orthotopic graft
Quick Summary
An orthotopic graft is a surgical procedure where tissue or an organ is transplanted to its original anatomical position within the recipient's body. This is in contrast to a heterotopic graft, where the transplant is placed in an abnormal location.1
The concept of tissue grafting has ancient roots, with early Hindu surgeons reconstructing noses using skin flaps from a patient's arm. This technique, later adopted in Western medicine, involved leaving the flap attached until new blood vessels formed, then severing it and shaping it to the recipient site.1
Modern surgical applications include free grafting of thin skin pieces, which can restore appearance and function after burns or deformities. Cornea grafts can restore sight, and bone marrow transplants can save lives by replacing defective marrow cells. Organ and limb grafts require rapid connection to the recipient's blood vessels to ensure survival. Grafts can be autografts (from the same individual), isografts (between identical twins), allografts (between genetically non-identical individuals of the same species), or xenografts (between different species).12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
