Inflammation

Question 1

What is inflammation?

Answer 1

A series of defensive biological reactions to harmful agents that lead to pain, redness, swelling, heat, and loss of function in the affected areas of the body

Question 2

What is the inflammatory response?

Answer 2

1. Tissue damage triggers a local increase in blood flow and capillary permeability
2. Permeable capillaries allow an influx of fluid (exudate) and cells into tissue
3. Phagocytes migrate to site of inflammation (chemotaxis)
4. Phagocytes destroy bacteria

Question 3

What is acute inflammation?

Answer 3

A short term, normal process that protects and heals the body

The acute inflammation process is achieved by the increased movement of plasma and leukocytes from the blood into the injured tissues

Question 4

What is the body’s inflammatory response causing acute inflammation?

Answer 4

1. Increased blood flow delivers the body’s defensive cells and plasma to the invasion site
2. Leukocytes and plasma proteins leak from blood vessels into the tissue at the site of infection
3. Leukocytes fight the invading bacteria
4. Some tissue destruction occurs in the area surrounding the infection site that is a side effect of the body’s inflammatory response

Question 5

What are the 5 cardinal signs of acute inflammation?

Answer 5

1. Heat = a localised rise in temperature due to an increased amount of blood at the site
2. Redness = the result of increased blood in the area
3. Swelling = the result of accumulation of plasma and leukocytes at the site
4. Pain = excess fluid in the tissues puts pressure on sensitive nerve endings causing pain
5. Loss of function = the result of swelling and pain

Question 6

How does the acute inflammatory response eliminate infection?

Answer 6

• Blood vessels near the infected site become more permeable
• PMNs are the first cells to arrive at the site and release cytokines
• If the body succeeds in eliminating all the microorganisms, the tissue will heal and inflammation will cease

Question 7

What is chronic inflammation?

Answer 7

• Long lived, out of control inflammatory response that continues for more than a few weeks
• Pathological condition that can destroy healthy tissue and cause more damage than the original problem
• The classic warning signs usually seen in acute inflammation are absent in chronic inflammation, so the problem may go unnoticed by the host, especially as pain is often absent

Question 8

Why does chronic inflammation occur?

Answer 8

Chronic inflammation occurs ebcause the body is unable to rid itself of invading organisms during the acute inflammatory response phase

The invading microorganisms are persistent and stimulate an exaggerated immune response, which can cause permanent damage to body tissues

Question 9

What is the chronic inflammatory process?

Answer 9

Chrinic inflammation is characterised by an accumulation of macrophages which engulf and digest microoragnisms

Leukocytes release inflammatory mediators that perpetuate the inflammatory response

Question 10

What are examples of diseases associated with chronic inflammation?

Answer 10

Rheumatoid arthritis
Diabetes
Asthma
Gingivits
Periodontitis

Question 11

What are periods of remission and exacerbation?

Answer 11

Remission = signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation partially or completely disappear

Exacerbation = signs and symptoms in an active period of the disease

Question 12

What are inflammatory chemical mediators?

Answer 12

Chemical mediators are biologically active compounds secreted by cells taht activate the body’s inflammatory response