Time-frame for recovering organs for transplantation?

The answer is C. Tissue such as cornea, skin and bone can be recovered up to 24 hours after the heart has stopped beating. Organs such as lungs, pancreas, liver and kidneys, on the other hand, need to be removed immediately after a donor is declared brain-dead and while their heart is still beating.

That's because these organs must continue to receive blood until they are cooled in a preservative solution. Once a person is brain-dead, no blood or oxygen reaches their brain and all its functions terminate. The donor is maintained on a ventilator that breathes for them so that the heart keeps beating and the organs continue to receive a blood supply. The organs are then harvested quickly and cooled with a preservative solution once the heart is stopped.

Today in the United States about 63 transplants take place every day and yet 16 people on waiting lists die because not enough organs are available, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). DHHS recently declared April -- the month of springtime and renewal -- National Donate a Life Month. The group hopes to raise public awareness of the need for organ, tissue, blood and marrow donation.

Resources:

TransWeb.org provides lots of information about organ transplantation, including facts about harvesting organs. You can also take a quiz at TransWeb to test your knowledge on the topic.

Find out what you can do to help during national Donate a Life Month.