Acellular dermis

Acellular dermis is a type of biomaterial that is derived from the dermis layer of skin. It is used in a variety of medical applications, including wound healing, reconstructive surgery, and tissue engineering.

Etymology

The term "acellular dermis" comes from the Latin words "a" meaning "without", and "cellula" meaning "a small room". This refers to the fact that the material is derived from the dermis layer of skin, but has had all of the cells removed.

History

Acellular dermis was first developed in the late 20th century as a way to improve wound healing and tissue repair. It was initially used in burn treatment, but its applications have since expanded to include a wide range of medical procedures.

Production

The production of acellular dermis involves removing all of the cells from a piece of dermal tissue. This is typically done using a combination of physical and chemical processes. The resulting material is a matrix of collagen and elastin fibers, which provide a scaffold for new tissue growth.

Applications

Acellular dermis is used in a variety of medical applications. It is commonly used in wound healing, where it can help to promote the growth of new skin tissue. It is also used in reconstructive surgery, where it can be used to replace damaged or missing tissue. In addition, it is used in tissue engineering, where it can serve as a scaffold for the growth of new organs or tissues.

Related Terms

• Biomaterial
• Dermis
• Wound healing
• Reconstructive surgery
• Tissue engineering

See Also

• Skin graft
• Tissue regeneration