How many human body parts can be transplanted? A comprehensive guide

September 22, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 46,000 organ transplants were performed in the U.S. in 2023, showcasing the remarkable potential of modern medicine. This guide explores the intricate question: How many human body parts can be transplanted? We’ll delve into the science, covering solid organs, tissues, and cutting-edge composite grafts.

Quick Summary

Modern medicine allows for the transplantation of numerous body parts, including seven solid organs and a wide array of tissues. The number can vary depending on whether the donor is living or deceased, with deceased donors offering the full spectrum of solid organs and tissues, while living donors can provide one kidney, a portion of the liver, and other segments. Technological advances also include composite tissue transplants for hands and faces.

Key Points

Seven major organs can be transplanted: These include the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and intestines.
Tissue transplants are widespread: Beyond organs, dozens of tissues can be donated, such as corneas, skin, bones, heart valves, and blood vessels.
Living donors can help with specific organs: A living person can donate one kidney, a portion of their liver, or other partial organs, with the liver capable of regeneration.
Composite tissue allografts are complex multi-tissue transplants: These advanced procedures involve transplanting multiple tissues simultaneously, as seen in hand, arm, and face transplants.
Technological advances are expanding possibilities: Emerging fields like xenotransplantation (animal-to-human), 3D bioprinting, and stem cell therapy promise to further increase the number of transplantable parts and reduce rejection.
Many lives can be saved or improved by a single donor: A single deceased donor can save multiple lives through organ donation and enhance the quality of life for many more through tissue donation.

A detailed breakdown of transplantable parts

The ability to transplant human body parts is a cornerstone of modern medicine, saving and improving thousands of lives each year. The answer to how many human body parts can be transplanted? is not a single number, but rather a categorized list that continues to grow with advances in surgical techniques and immunosuppressive drugs.

The core list of solid organ transplants

When most people think of transplantation, they think of the major solid organs. From a deceased donor, up to seven major organs can be procured and transplanted, potentially saving multiple lives. These include:

Kidneys: The most common organ transplant. Patients with end-stage renal disease receive either a single kidney or a kidney-pancreas transplant.
Liver: The liver can be transplanted whole or, in some cases, a portion of a donated liver can be split between two recipients.
Heart: This vital organ is transplanted in cases of end-stage heart failure or other terminal cardiac conditions.
Lungs: Lungs can be transplanted individually or, more commonly, as a pair for patients with severe respiratory disease.
Pancreas: Often transplanted in conjunction with a kidney, a pancreas transplant can cure insulin-dependent diabetes.
Intestines: Intestine transplantation is a more complex and rarer procedure, typically reserved for patients with intestinal failure.

Living versus deceased donor options

The source of the donation significantly impacts what can be transplanted. While deceased donors provide the full range of solid organs, living donors also play a critical role, especially for kidneys and livers. Living donation is possible because the body can function with a single kidney and the liver is capable of regeneration. The parts that can be donated while living are:

One kidney
A lobe of the liver
A portion of a lung
A segment of the pancreas
A segment of the intestine

Beyond the organs: The world of tissue donation

In addition to solid organs, a deceased donor can also provide a vast number of tissues, which are used to improve quality of life for countless individuals. These tissues include:

Corneas: Donated corneas can restore sight to people with corneal blindness due to injury or disease.
Skin: Grafts of donated skin are essential for treating severe burns and other extensive skin injuries.
Bone and Connective Tissues: This includes bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, which can be used to repair orthopedic injuries, replace cancerous bone, and aid in spinal fusion surgery.
Heart Valves: Donated heart valves can be used to replace damaged ones, restoring proper blood flow and heart function.
Blood Vessels: Arteries and veins from a donor can be used in heart bypass surgery and other vascular procedures.

The rise of composite tissue allografts

One of the most remarkable and complex advancements in transplantation is the advent of composite tissue allografts (CTAs). These are transplants that involve multiple types of tissue from the same donor, such as skin, bone, muscle, nerves, and blood vessels. Examples of CTA transplants that have been successfully performed include:

Hand and arm transplants: Patients who have lost a hand or arm can receive a donor limb, significantly improving function and quality of life.
Face transplants: These highly complex procedures restore facial structures lost due to severe trauma or disease, offering a second chance at life for recipients.
Uterus transplants: This emerging field offers a pathway to pregnancy for individuals with uterine factor infertility.

Comparison of transplant types


Feature	Solid Organ Transplant	Tissue Transplant	Composite Tissue Allograft (CTA)
Types of Parts	Heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, intestine	Cornea, skin, bone, tendons, ligaments, heart valves, blood vessels	Hands, arms, face, uterus
Donor Source	Living or deceased	Primarily deceased	Primarily deceased
Primary Goal	Life-saving or life-extending	Improve quality of life; reconstructive	Restore function and appearance
Rejection Risk	Significant; requires powerful immunosuppression	Lower risk than organs, but still present	Significant; high risk of acute and chronic rejection
Required Surgery	Highly complex, often long duration	Varies from minor to extensive	Extremely complex, long surgical procedure
Patient Recovery	Intensive care, lifelong management	Varies, can be extensive rehab for certain tissues	Intensive rehab, lifelong immunosuppression

The future of transplantation and regenerative medicine

The field of transplantation continues to evolve rapidly. Researchers are actively working on innovative solutions to address the persistent organ shortage and minimize the risk of rejection. Some of these promising areas include:

Xenotransplantation: This involves transplanting organs from genetically modified animals, primarily pigs, into humans. Recent clinical trials have shown promising results, and this could one day be a game-changer.
3D Bioprinting: Using a patient's own cells, scientists are exploring the possibility of 3D printing new, functional organs, which would eliminate the need for donors and the risk of immune rejection.
Stem Cell Therapy: Stem cell research offers the potential to repair and regenerate damaged organs and tissues, potentially preventing the need for a full transplant. Learn more about the promising research into regenerative medicine from the National Institutes of Health.

Conclusion: The growing number of possibilities

The question of how many human body parts can be transplanted? doesn't have a static answer. With seven major organs and an extensive list of tissues and composite grafts, the number is always expanding. From routine kidney transplants to groundbreaking face and uterus procedures, the reality of transplantation offers a profound mix of hope and scientific achievement. As technology advances, we can expect the list of transplantable parts to continue growing, offering a new lease on life for more people than ever before.

Frequently Asked Questions

An organ transplant involves a vital, functioning organ like a heart or kidney, while a tissue transplant involves non-organ material like skin, bone, or corneas. Organ transplants typically require full compatibility and lifelong immunosuppressant medication, whereas tissue transplants have a lower risk of rejection and different post-operative care.

Yes, a single deceased donor can potentially donate up to seven life-saving organs and many different tissues, including corneas, bone, skin, and heart valves, saving and improving numerous lives.

A composite tissue allograft (CTA) is a type of transplant involving multiple tissue types, such as skin, bone, muscle, and blood vessels, all from the same donor. Examples include face, hand, and arm transplants.

From a living donor, the list of transplantable parts is more limited. A person can typically donate one kidney, a portion of their liver, a segment of a lung, or a part of the pancreas or intestine. The most common living donation is a kidney.

No, a successful transplant is not guaranteed. The body's immune system can reject the new organ or tissue. While advances in medicine have significantly improved success rates, recipients must take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives to prevent rejection, and there are still risks and complications involved.

Yes, research and clinical trials are continually expanding the number of transplantable body parts. Innovations like uterus transplants, as well as ongoing research into xenotransplantation and bioprinting, are broadening the horizons of transplant medicine.

While cornea transplants are a common procedure that restores sight, a full eye transplant, including the optic nerve, is not yet a reality. The optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, is difficult to reconnect in a way that restores vision, but research continues in this area.