Inflammation Flashcards
Define inflammation
The body’s response to tisssue injury, creaating an environment for restoration and repair
What type of response is inflammation?
non specific immune response
In simple terms what is the definition of non specific immune response?
the same response will happen no matter the injury.
What are some functions of inflammation?
-limits the spread of pathogens or destroys them outright
-removes any cell debris ad pathogens from damaged tissue
-sets the stage for tissue repair
-alerts the adaptive immune system to the threat of infection
Where does inflammation of tissues arise?
The connective tissue
What are the four cardinal signs of inflammation?
-heat
-redness
-swelling
-pain
Describe the cardinal sign of heat
-hyperemia (increased blood flow) results in more heat being transported by the blood to the affected area
-this is important because heat increases the metabolic rate of cells and this leads to faster repair process.
-heat inhibts migration of some bacteria which arrests infection
Describe the cardinal sign of redness
-caused by vasodilation of nearby blood vessels and hyperemia to the area
-this is important as increased blood flow to the area means more WBC and chemicals important in inflammation are delivered to the injury site for tissue repair
Describe the cardinal sign of swelling
-increased permeability of blood vessels results in more fluid leaking from cappilaries into the interstial space
swelling may limit movement of the injury site which may enhance speed of repair
increased fluid may prevent further possible injury to surrounding tissue
what is the interstital space?
space between tissue and cells
describe the cardinal sign of pain
certain chemicals released from cells stimulate local nerve endings-localised pain
-pain can kimit the movement of the site injury which might promote faster repair
what is Step one of inflammation?
-chemical alarm
-large number ofinflammatory chemicals being released from stressed/damaged cells
mast cells generate the alarm releasing chemicals such as:
histamines, complement, kinins, prostaglandins
Why are histamines released?
vasodilation
increased permeability of blood vessels
actives local pain receptors
why are kinins released?
vasodilation
increased permebaility of blood vessels
why are prostaglandins released?
intensify histamine and kinin effect
-released by mast cells
-causes vasodilation and increased blood vessel permeability
why are leukotrienes released?
increased permeability of blood vessels phagocytic attachment
what is step 2 of inflammation?
-phagocytosis
What is leukocytosis?
increase in the number of circulating white blood cells in the blood
Why does leukocytosis happen?
as a result of leukocytosis inducing factors being released from injured cells which stimulates neutrophils to be released from red bone marrow.
What is margination?
refer to the action of phagocytes clinging to the inner walls of blood cappilaries
Describe the procces of margination
-inflammed endothelial cells send out chemicals called cell adhesion molecules (CAMS)
-neutrophils come across CAMS they slow down and briefly bind them to tissues-long enough for them to become activated
-they too then send out CAMS allowing them to bind tightly to endothelial cells
describe diapedesis
continued chemical signalling encourages neutrophils to flatterm amd squeeze through the endothelial cells of the cappilary wall
describe chemostaxis
various inflammatory chemicals signal to neutrophils and other WBC to move toward the site of injury
-known as chemotactic agents
what are the four phases of mobilising phagocytes
-leukocytosis-increased neutrophil production
-margination-pavementing
-diapedesis-amoeboid movement
-chemotaxis of WBC-neutrophils-rapid arrival
monocytes-slower arrival
