The immune system's attack on transplanted tissue or organs, recognizing them as foreign. This process can lead to tissue damage and transplant failure if not controlled with immunosuppressive medications.
From Latin 'rejectus,' meaning 'thrown back' or 'cast away,' from 're-' (back) + 'jacere' (to throw). The medical meaning evolved in the 20th century with organ transplantation, describing how the body 'throws back' foreign tissue.
Your immune system is so good at recognizing 'self' versus 'non-self' that it can reject a life-saving organ transplant! Even identical twins can experience mild rejection because of minor genetic differences in tissue compatibility markers.
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