histocompatibility antigen

noun

, Immunology.

1. any antigen on the surface of tissue or blood cells that provokes the immune response and subsequent rejection when transplanted to an individual of a different antigenic type, thus determining whether the tissues or organs of a donor and recipient are histocompatible.

histocompatibility antigen

noun

1. a molecule occurring on the surface of tissue cells that can take several different forms. The differences between histocompatibility antigens are inherited and determine organ transplant rejection

Word History and Origins

Origin of histocompatibility antigen¹

First recorded in 1965–70