Inflammation Flashcards
What is the first line of defence?
Skin and mucous membranes
What is the second line of defence?
Inflammation
What is the third line of defence?
Immunity
What is inflammation?
Body’s non-specific protective response to tissue damage, disease or injury to try and destroy, dilute or wall off injurious agent and injured tissue.
What are the 5 cardinal signs of inflammation?
Redness (rubor), Swelling (tumor), Warmth (calor), Pain (dolor), Loss of funtion (function laesa).
What is the purpose of inflammation?
Prevent minor infections from becoming overwhelming and prepare any damaged tissue for repair.
What are the 4 stages of inflammation?
Vascular response, cellular response, phagocytosis, lymphatic drainage.
What happens during the vascular response?
transient vasoconstriction, more prolonged vasodilation, increased blood flow and increased hydrostatic pressure, opening of capillary beds, increased vascular permeability, bradykinin causes capillary endothelium to retract, leaking of plasma, oedema formation, haemoconcentration.
What happens during the cellular response?
Neutrophils emigrate to site of injury followed by monocytes and squeeze through endothelial gaps by process of diapedesis. They are attracted to site in response to chemical mediators in process known as chemotaxis.
What are the cellular changes?
- Margination (WBC move to outer of vessel)
- Rolling
- Adhesion
- Pavementing (flatten across edge of vessel)
- Chemotaxis
- Pseudopod formation (gaps formed for leukocytes to squeeze through so they change shape).
- Amoeboid action (wiggle through gaps).
- Emigration Diapedesis
- Chemotaxis
What is phagocytosis?
Process of ingestion of foreign material or particulate matter.
What is lymphatic drainage?
Lymphatic vessels open up assisting drainage of excessive fluid, products of inflammation and any antigens not dealt with.
What are the common types of medication for inflammation?
Aspirin, NSAIDs (ibuprofen, diclofenac sodium, naproxen), Corticosteroids (Prednisolone), Immunosuppressants (Methotrexate).
What blood tests can be used to detect acute inflammation?
WBC count, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein.
