this target article, the complementary manuscript

[GoodTaste]

I don't understand why used "the" in the phrase "this target article, the complementary manuscript." To me, "a" might be more apt since it is the first time to introduce the manuscript. I am not very sure.

======================
The purpose of this target article, the complementary manuscript focused on immunological issues in BHT(body-to-head transplantation), and the accompanying Commentaries by scholars and practitioners in medicine, immunology, and bioethics is to review major surgical and psychosocial-ethical and immunological considerations surrounding body-to-head transplantation.

Source: NCBI

 

[Tdol]

The manuscript only complements this article.

 

[jutfrank]

Only the is correct.

The sentence is talking about the purpose of three things:

this article
the complementary manuscript focused on immunogical issues in BHT
the accompanying commentaries ...

The highlighted words are all reference words. We use reference words to define which things we're talking about. The writer presumes we are already aware of these things. If for whatever reason we were not aware, then we are now after we've read that sentence.


(What a fascinating subject!)