Final answer:
The hepatic artery in a liver transplant rejection is implicated in the rejection process as it is involved in the transport of immune cells and antibodies to the transplanted organ.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hepatic artery is an artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the liver. In a liver transplant rejection, the recipient's immune system recognizes the proteins on the incompatible organ as foreign and attacks them. This immune response causes the rejection of the transplanted liver.
For example, if a liver transplant recipient receives a liver from an incompatible donor, the recipient's immune system will produce antibodies and immune cells that target the foreign proteins on the transplanted liver. This immune attack leads to inflammation and damage to the transplanted liver, resulting in rejection.
Therefore, the hepatic artery, which delivers oxygenated blood to the liver, is implicated in the rejection process as it is involved in the transport of immune cells and antibodies to the transplanted organ.