4. Inflammation and Immune Response Flashcards
What is inflammation?
A non-specific response to injury or necrosis that occurs in a vascularized tissue.
What are the signs and symptoms of inflammation?
- Heat
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pain
- Loss of function
What are the Latin terms for the signs of inflammation?
- Calor (Heat)
- Rubor (Redness)
- Tumor (Swelling)
- Dolor (Pain)
- Functio Laesa (Loss of function)
What causes redness and heat in inflammation?
Vasodilation and increased blood flow.
What leads to swelling in inflammation?
Increased permeability of blood vessels results in exudation of plasma proteins and edema.
What is the cause of pain in inflammation?
Released inflammatory mediators like bradykinin bind to pain receptors and increase sensitivity.
What is loss of function in inflammation hypothesized to be due to?
Neurological response to pain.
What characterizes acute inflammation?
A rapid response to an injurious agent that delivers mediators of host defense to the site of injury.
What are the three major components of acute inflammation?
- Alterations in vascular caliber
- Structural changes in the microvasculature
- Emigration of leukocytes from the microcirculation
What triggers acute inflammation?
- Infections (bacterial, viral, parasitic)
- Trauma (blunt and penetrating)
- Physical and chemical agents
- Tissue necrosis
- Foreign bodies
- Immune reactions
What are the stages of inflammation?
- Vascular stage
- Cellular stage
- Tissue repair
What happens during the vascular stage of inflammation?
Blood vessels briefly constrict, then dilate, leading to edema.
What is transudate?
Fluid forced into tissues due to increased pressure in vessels.
What is exudate?
Small proteins and cells that leak out of blood vessels during inflammation.
What is the role of leukocytes in inflammation?
They move to the area of injury to help eliminate the offending agent.
What are the steps of leukocyte diapedesis?
- Activation of endothelium
- Margination, rolling, and adhesion
- Transmigration across the endothelium
- Migration in interstitial tissues
What is resolution in tissue repair?
Restoration of normal tissue structure and function.
What is repair in tissue healing?
Replacement of destroyed tissue with scar tissue.
What are local mediators of inflammation?
Biochemicals released by leukocytes and tissue cells that coordinate body defenses.
What are the steps of phagocytosis?
- Adherence plus opsonization
- Engulfment
- Intracellular killing
What systemic effects can cytokines have during inflammation?
- Hypothalamus may cause fever
- Increased neutrophil production in bone marrow
- CNS causing lethargy
- Liver producing more fibrinogen and C-reactive protein
What characterizes suppurative or purulent inflammation?
Production of large amounts of pus or purulent exudate consisting of neutrophils, necrotic cells, and edema fluid.
What is serous inflammation?
Marked by the outpouring of a thin fluid derived from plasma or mesothelial cell secretions.
What is fibrinous inflammation?
Characterized by larger molecules like fibrinogen passing the vascular barrier, leading to fibrin formation.
What is chronic inflammation characterized by?
- Infiltration with mononuclear cells
- Tissue destruction
- Attempts at healing by connective tissue replacement
What settings can lead to chronic inflammation?
- Persistent infections
- Prolonged exposure to toxic agents
- Autoimmunity
What can impair inflammation processes?
- Excess bleeding
- Poor circulation
- Compromised bone marrow health
- Diminished immune response
- Poor nutritional status
What mechanisms maintain normal thermoregulation?
- Dilation of surface blood vessels
- Sweating
What induces fever during infection?
Exogenous pyrogens cause WBC to produce endogenous pyrogens, which induce synthesis of prostaglandins.
What are the benefits of fever?
- Kills microorganisms
- Decreases serum levels of essential minerals
- Facilitates immune response
- Enhances phagocytosis
What are the risks associated with high fever?
- Impairs neurological function
- Increases workload on the heart
- Can cause complications in pregnancy
Fever over _______ requires emergency care.
106°F
True or False: Chronic inflammation can last for weeks, months, or years.
True
