Inflammation

Question 1

What is inflammation?

Answer 1

A non- specific immune response (the same response will happen no matter the injury).

Question 2

What are the functions of inflammation?

Answer 2

-limits spread of pathogens and destroys them
-removes cell debris and pathogens from damaged tissue
-sets stage for tissue repair
-alerts adaptive immune system to threat of infection

Question 3

What are the 4 cardinal signs of acute inflammation?

Answer 3

-Heat
-Redness
-Swelling
-Pain

Question 4

What happens with the sign of heat?

Answer 4

There is a higher blood flow so more heat is transported by blood to the affected area. This heat increases the rate of metabolic cells in order to heal faster (inhibits migration of some bacteria).

Question 5

What happens with sign of redness?

Answer 5

This is caused by vasodilation of blood vessels and hyperaemia. This means more white blood cells and chemicals important for inflammation delivered to injured site

Question 6

What is the meaning of hyperaemia?

Answer 6

Increased blood flow

Question 7

What happens with sign of swelling?

Answer 7

There is higher leakiness of blood vessels so more fluid leak from capillaries to interstitial space. Swelling limits movement of injury so it can heal faster and prevent further injury.

Question 8

What is interstitial space?

Answer 8

This is the space between tissue cells.

Question 9

What happens with sign of pain?

Answer 9

Chemicals are released from cells and stimulate nerve endings (localised pain) and this limits movement of site of injury to heal faster.

Question 10

What is the first step of the inflammation process?

Answer 10

There is a ‘chemical alarm’ where lots of chemicals are released from stressed or damaged cells. Mast cells then come along and release histamine and kinins etc.

Question 11

What is the function of mast cells?

Answer 11

These release chemicals essential for the inflammatory process. For example, histamine and kinins (both for vasodilation) and prostaglandins (these intensify histamine and kinin effect).

Question 12

What is the second step of the inflammatory process?

Answer 12

Phagocytes flood the area and start phagocytosis where they start eating any unwanted bacteria or pathogens that have invaded in through cut in skin.

Question 13

What is chronic inflammation?

Answer 13

These can develop an autoimmune disorder and it’s where the immune system attacks healthy tissue as it goes to attack foreign substance but there aren’t any.

Question 14

What is leukocytosis?

Answer 14

This is an increase in the number of white blood cells and happens as a result of leukocytosis- inducing factors being released from injured cells.
This stimulates neutrophils to be released from red bone marrow.

Question 15

What is margination?

Answer 15

This is the action of phagocytosis clinging to the inner walls of blood capillaries. The inflamed endothelial cells send out ‘cell adhesion molecules’ (CAMs) which signal phagocytes that this is the area they have to bind to.

Question 16

What is diapedesis?

Answer 16

This is more chemical signalling where neutrophils flatten and squeeze through endothelial cells of capillary walls.

Question 17

What is chemotaxis?

Answer 17

Various inflammatory chemicals signal to neutrophils and white blood cells to move towards them and the site of injury (chemotactic agents).
Monocytes follow neutrophils to injury and produce lysosomes so they mature and turn into macrophages that dispose of remaining pathogens.