Inflammation

Question 1

What is inflammation?

Answer 1

• The host response to tissue damage
• Protective response: to remove/ contain cause, initiate repair and reinstate useful function
• Stops when injurious agent is eliminated
• Essential for healing.

Question 2

Name 5 triggers for inflammation…

Answer 2

1. Infection
2. Foreign body
3. Ischemia/ infarction
4. Physical/ chemical injury
5. Immune reaction.

Question 3

What happens in a cellular response to inflammation?

Answer 3

• Main aim of inflammation is to recruit leucocytes to area of damage by adhering them to vessel wall.
• Neutrophils and macrophages ingest and kill bacteria and necrotic cells, as well as promoting repair.
• These white blood cells need to be recruited from the vessel lumens.

Question 4

What happens in Margination?

Answer 4

Red blood cells flow in centre of vessel lumen and WBCs flow peripherally. In stasis, more wcc fall into peripheral flow.

Question 5

What is Rolling?

Answer 5

An increased amount of leucocytes roll along then edge of the damaged endotehlium. Mediated by selectins.

Question 6

What is Adhesion ?

Answer 6

The leucocytes finally stop and adhere to the endothelium. Cytokines secreted by by injured cells encourage the adhesion of the leucocytes.

Question 7

What is the function of leucocytes ?

Answer 7

Receptors on the leucocytes recognise foreign microbes.

Question 8

What do Opsonin receptors do?

Answer 8

Recognise microbes that have been coated with proteins (antibodies/complement) or opsonins, thus called opsonization. This targets them for phagocytosis…

Question 9

What is Chronic inflammation caused by?

Answer 9

• Persistent infection: microorganisms that are difficult to remove e.g. parasite, mycobacteria.
• Immune mediated inflammation: reaction against host tissue leading to auto-immune diseases.
• Prolonged exposure to toxic agent : silica, asbestos, lipids (atherosclerosis)

Question 10

How are Granulomas caused?

Answer 10

Cellular attempt to contain offending agent it cannot eradicate. Leads to a tissue build up.

Question 11

List 5 signs of inflammation…

Answer 11

Redness, Heat, Swelling, Pain, Loss of function

Question 12

5 symptoms of inflammation?

Answer 12

Fever, Tachycardia, Hypotension, Raised WCC, Raised CRP

Question 13

Poor inflammatory response is the basis…

Answer 13

For immunodeficiency conditions.

Question 14

How is inflammation treated?

Answer 14

NSAIDs, Anti-histamines, Steroids

Question 15

What happens if there is no inflammatory response?

Answer 15

Increased susceptibility to infection, Delayed healing of wounds, Tissue damage.

Question 16

What is Acute appendicitis ?

Answer 16

Inflammation of the appendix.

Question 17

Symptoms of appendicitis?

Answer 17

• Central abdominal pain, worse on movement,
• nausea/vomiting
• Pyrexia,
• raised HR,
• raised WCC and CRP