Acute Inflammation Flashcards
What are the signs of inflammation?
Rubor - redness
Calor - heat
Tumour - swelling
Dolor - pain
Loss of function
What are the causes of inflammation?
Micro-organisms
Trauma
Chemical
Physical - extreme conditions (heat, cold, radiation)
Necrosis (dead tissue irritates adjacent tissue)
Hypersensitivity
What is the microcirculation?
Capillary beds (arterioles and venules)
Extracellular space including the fluid molecules within it
Lymphatic channels and drainage
What is oncotic pressure / colloid osmotic pressure?
Proteins exerted by proteins in the blood vessel plasma
What is hydrostatic pressure?
Pressure exerted by a fluid
What controls movement of fluid across membranes?
Starling forces
What are the three stages of inflammation pathogenesis?
Change in vessel radius
Change in the permeability of the vessel wall
Movement of neutrophils from the vessel to the extravascular space
What are the local changes in vessel radius in the Triple response?
Transient arteriolar constriction
Local arteriolar dilation
Relaxation of smooth muscle
What does the increased blood flow result in? - cardinal signs
Heat - Calor
Redness - Rubor
Where does increased permeability occur?
Microvascular bed
What is exudation?
The process whereby plasma moves from the capillary to the extracellular space
What is exudate?
The fluid that is leaked - rich in plasma proteins (immunoglobulin and fibrinogen)
What are the results of exudation?
Oedema is formed - accumulation of fluid in the extravascular space
swelling - pain - reduced function
What effect does exudation have on the blood viscosity?
Increased viscosity - rate of blood flow slows down - stasis
Describe the structure of the blood flow in inflammation
RBC’s aggregate in the centre of the lumen, neutrophils found near the endothelium
