Graft (surgery)

Grafting refers to a surgical procedure to move tissue from one site to another on the body, or from another creature, without bringing its own blood supply with it.

A similar technique where tissue is transferred with the blood supply intact is called a flap.

Examples of this are a tube to carry blood flow across a defect or from an artery to a vein for use in hemodialysis.

Autografts and isografts are usually not considered as foreign and, therefore, do not elicit rejection.

Allografts and xenografts may be recognized as foreign by the recipient and rejected.