A skin substitute used to close the skin temporarily is referred to as what type of dermal replacement?

The correct answer is acellular. An acellular dermal replacement refers specifically to skin substitutes that do not contain living cells. These materials are used to temporarily close wounds and are often derived from human or animal sources. Their structure provides a scaffold for the wound healing process, allowing new tissue to form over time. Acellular dermal matrices are designed to be integrated into the host tissue while minimizing the risk of immunogenic reactions, making them effective for temporary closure.

In contrast, avascular refers to a lack of blood vessels in the tissue but may or may not imply cellular presence. Artificial might suggest synthetic materials that may not have the same biocompatibility or function as acellular dermal replacements. Lastly, autogenous refers to tissue taken from the same individual, which can provide better integration but is not relevant to the category of acellular dermal replacements.