ICS Flashcards
Define inflammation
Increased vascular permability accompanied by infiltration of inflammatory cells
Response to injury or infection
When is inflammation beneficial?
Destruction of invading microorganisms
Walling off abscess cavity to prevent spread of infection
Good in injury and infection
When is inflammation bad?
Autoimmune reactions
Overreaction
What is the sequence of acute inflammation?
- injury or infection
- neutrophils arrive and phagocytose and release enzymes
- macrophages arrive and phagocytose
- either resolution with clearance of inflammation or progression to chronic inflammation
What is acute inflammation + example?
Initial reaction of tissue to injury
e.g. acute appendicitis, strep throat, frostbite
What are the 5 principal causes of acute inflammation?
Microbial infections
Hypersensitivity reactions
Physical agents
Chemicals
Tissue necrosis
Example of acute inflammation by microbial infection
Pyogenic bacteria
Viruses
Examples of acute inflammation by physical agents
Trauma
Ionising radiation
Heat
Cold
Examples of acute inflammation by chemicals
Corrosives
Acids and alkalis
Reducing agents
Bacterial toxins
Example of acute inflammation by tissue necrosis
Ischaemic infarction
What are the essential macroscopic appearances of acute inflammation?
5 cardinal signs
Redness from dilation
Increase in temp in peripheral parts from increased blood flow
Swelling from oedema
Pain
Loss of function
rubor, calor, tumor, dolor
What cells are involved in inflammation?
Neutrophil polymorphs
Macrophages
Lymphocytes
Endothelial cells
Fibroblasts
What do neutrophil polymorphs do?
First cells to arrive in acute inflammation
Adhesion to microorganisms
Phagocytosis and intracellulara killing of microorganisms
Release lysosomal products
Short lived and die on scene
What accumulates in the early stages of acute inflammation?
Oedema, fibrin and neutrophil polymorphs accumulate in extracellular space
What are the 5 cardinal signs in inflammation?
Rubor
Dolor
Calor in extremeties
Tumour
Loss of function
What are the early stages of acute inflammation?
Changes in vessel calibre and flow
Increased vascular permeability
Formation of fluid exudate
Formation of cellular exudate and emigration of neutrophil polymorphs into extracellular space
Diapedesis
Chemotaxis of neutrophils
What is diapedesis?
in acute inflammation
red cells being passively forced out of vessels by hydrostatic pressure
Lots of RBCs in extravascular space implies severe vascular injury
What is chemotaxis?
of neutrophils in acute inflammation
neutrophil polymorphs attracted to certain chemical substances in solution
What do histamine and thrombin cause in acute inflammation?
upregulation of adhesion molecules on surface of endothelial cells leading to firm neutrophil adhesion to endothelial surface
What do endogenous chemical mediators cause?
Vasodilation
Emigration of neutrophils
Chemotaxis
Increased vascular permeability
Itching and pain
What does histamine cause in acute inflammation?
Vascular dilation and immediate increased vascular permeability
What is the most important source of histamine in humans?
Mast cells
also present in basophil , eosinophil leucocytes and platelets
What is the diagnostic histological feature of acute inflammation?
Accumulation of neutrophil polymorphs in extracellular space
What is in the fluid exudate?
acute inflammation
high protein content
immunoglobulins
coagulation factors (fibrinogen)