During the initial stage of connective tissue graft healing, the graft is nourished by which of the following?

During the initial stage of connective tissue graft healing, the primary source of nourishment for the graft comes from plasma circulation. In this early phase, before the graft establishes its own blood supply, it relies on the plasma transudate present in the surrounding tissues. This process allows nutrients, oxygen, and other essential substances to diffuse from the wound site into the graft tissue.

As the healing progresses, the graft will eventually begin to revascularize, but this occurs after the initial plasma-mediated phase. The reliance on plasma circulation is critical because it sustains the graft while cellular activities associated with healing take place. This understanding is key in dental procedures involving connective tissue grafts to ensure clinicians can appropriately anticipate and manage the healing process.