Which organs can typically be donated by a living donor?

Prepare for the Carolina Donor Services Surgery Test with comprehensive materials including flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question features hints and detailed explanations to ensure readiness for your exam.

The correct answer identifies that a living donor can typically donate a kidney and part of the liver. Living donation is a safe and viable option for these organs due to the fact that humans can function well with a single kidney, as the other kidney can compensate for the loss.

In the case of the liver, it possesses a unique regenerative capability, allowing a living donor to donate a portion of their liver, which can then grow back to normal size within a few months. This makes living donations of the kidney and liver particularly feasible and beneficial for both the donor and the recipient.

Other organ options such as the heart and lungs, while crucial for transplant need, cannot be donated by living individuals due to the vital function they serve and the necessity for ongoing bodily support. The pancreas and intestines generally necessitate deceased donors for effective transplantation, and while corneas and skin can indeed be donated, they are typically sourced from deceased donors as they do not require living donation procedures. Thus, the combination of kidney and part of the liver represents the most common and successful types of organ donations from living donors.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy