Inflammation Flashcards
What is inflammation?
The body’s response to tissue injury and sets the scene for restoration and repair.
A non-specific immune response.
Why does the body get inflamed?
- It limits the spread of pathogens or destroys them outright
- It removes any cell debris and pathogens from damaged tissue
- It sets the stage for tissue repair.
- It alters the adaptive immune system to the threat of infection
What are the 4 cardinal sign of acute inflammation?
Heat, redness, swelling and pain
Why does an area get hot when inflamed?
Hyperaemia results in more heat being transported by the blood to the affected area.
Heat promotes the metabolic rate of cells leading to a faster repair process. Heat inhibits migration of some bacteria, which stems from infection.
Why does an area get red when inflamed?
Caused by vasodilation of nearby blood vessels and an increased blood flow to the area.
Increased blood flow to the area means more white blood cells, inflammatory chemicals that are being delivered to the site of injury.
Why does an area swell when inflamed?
Increased permeability of blood vessels results in more fluid leaking from capillaries into the interstitial space.
Swelling limits the movement of the injury site which may enhance speed of repair.
Why does an area get painful when inflamed?
Certain chemicals released from cells irritate surrounding nerve endings, causing localised pain.
Pain possibly limits the movement of the site of injury which might promote faster repair.
How does the inflammatory process start?
The inflammatory process begins with a chemical ‘alarm’ which is essentially a large number of inflammatory chemicals being released from stress or damaged tissue cells.
What chemicals are released by mast cells?
Histamine
Kinins
Prostaglandins
Platelet-derived growth factor
What happens after the ‘alarm’ has been raised in the inflammation process?
Phagocytes flood the area soon after the inflammatory process begins. The process of phagocytosis, which is basically gobbling up any unwanted bacteria that may have invaded.
Other than trauma, what can the inflammatory response be caused by?
Toxins Bacteria Viruses Allergies Stress
What is chronic inflammation?
Can develop in many ways such as an auto-immune disorder and results in damage to non-infected tissues.
What are the 4 main stages to phagocyte mobilisation?
- Leucocytosis
- Margination
- Diapedesis
- Chemotaxis
What is leucocytosis?
An increase in the number of circulating white blood cells in the body.
