INFLAMMATION Flashcards
What is Oedema?
Accumulation of fluid in tissues outside the blood vessels (extravascular space)
Oedema can be caused by various factors including inflammation, injury, or fluid retention.
Define Exudate.
Oedema fluid with a high protein content, caused by increased endothelial permeability to plasma proteins during inflammation
Exudate is different from transudate, which has low protein content.
What is Pus?
An inflammatory exudate containing viable and dead neutrophils, cell debris, viable and dead microorganisms, protein, lipids, DNA, and other components
Pus is typically associated with bacterial infections.
What does the term Purulent refer to?
An adjective derived from ‘pus,’ referring to pus-containing material or conditions
Conditions described as purulent often indicate an infection.
Define Suppuration.
The process of pus formation
Suppuration is often a result of the body’s immune response to infection.
What is Hyperaemia?
Increased blood flow through a tissue
Hyperaemia can occur physiologically (e.g., during exercise) or pathologically (e.g., in inflammation).
True or False: Hyperaemia is only associated with inflammation.
False
Hyperaemia can also occur physiologically, such as during exercise.
What role does Hyperaemia play in inflammation?
Essential for forming exudates by delivering immune cells and proteins to the affected area
This increased blood flow is crucial for the inflammatory response.
Explain Exudation.
Fluid containing plasma proteins moves from the bloodstream into the affected tissue
Increased vascular permeability to proteins is essential for exudation to occur.
What occurs after initial hyperaemia?
Fluid movement leads to slower blood flow, causing the affected blood vessels to appear congested
This congestion is often accompanied by swelling.
Fill in the blank: Exudation occurs through different mechanisms depending on the _______.
severity of the inflammation
The mechanisms can vary significantly between mild and severe inflammation.
Describe the mechanism of exudation during Mild or Moderate Acute Inflammation.
Fluid moves through small inter-endothelial gaps in the post-capillary venules due to the contraction of endothelial cells
This process can be immediate or delayed.
What happens during More Severe Inflammation?
There is direct damage to the endothelial cells in all microvessels, leading to an immediate and prolonged exudative response
This highlights the severity of the inflammatory response.
Define Colloid Osmotic Pressure.
The osmotic pressure exerted by plasma proteins, primarily albumin, that helps retain water within the blood vessels
This pressure is crucial for maintaining fluid balance in the body.
What is the role of Colloid Osmotic Pressure in Fluid Balance?
Opposes hydrostatic pressure, maintaining vascular volume and tissue fluid balance
A decrease in this pressure can lead to oedema.
Define Hydrostatic Pressure.
The pressure exerted by a fluid within a confined space, such as blood within blood vessels
This pressure is generated mainly by the heart’s pumping action.
What is the physiological balance of Hydrostatic Pressure in capillaries?
In the arterial end, hydrostatic pressure is higher than colloid osmotic pressure, leading to fluid filtration; in the venous end, it is lower, allowing fluid reabsorption
This balance is essential for proper fluid dynamics in the circulatory system.
Why is Exudation important in the inflammatory response?
- Dilution of Toxins
- Increased Lymphatic Drainage
- Plasma Proteins in Exudate
- Neutrophil Migration (Emigration)
These processes collectively limit infection and promote healing.
What are the components of Plasma Proteins in Exudate?
- Antibodies
- Complement System Components
- Fibrin System Components
Each of these components plays a vital role in the immune response.
