Inflammation Flashcards
What are the cardinal signs of inflammation?
Rubor Calor Tumor Dolor Loss of function
What does rubor mean in the context of the cardinal signs of inflammation?
Redness
What does calor mean in the context of the cardinal signs of inflammation?
Heat
What does tumor mean in the context of the cardinal signs of inflammation?
Swelling
What does dolor mean in the context of the cardinal signs of inflammation?
Pain
List 5 possible causes of acute inflammation
Any of: Microorganisms (infection) Mechanical (injury) Chemical (burns) Physical (extreme conditions) Dead tissue (irritates adjacent tissue) Hypersensitivity
What is microcirculation?
Capillary beds, fed by arterioles and drained by venules
Extracellular space and fluid and molecules within it
Why does increasing the radius of the blood vessel increase the blood flow?
According to Poiseuille’s law, flow is proportional to the radius to the power of four
What is oedema?
Accumulation of fluid in the extravascular space
What are the three phases of emigration of neutrophils?
Margination, pavementing and emigration
What happens in the margination phase of neutrophil emigration?
Neutrophils move to endothelial aspect of lumen
What happens in the pavementing phase of neutrophil emigration?
Neutrophils adhere to endothelium
What happens in the emigration phase of neutrophil emigration?
Neutrophils squeeze between endothelial cells to extravascular tissues
Name some of the benefits of acute inflammation
Rapid response to nonspecific insult Transient protection of inflamed area Neutrophils destroy organisms and denature antigen for macrophages Plasma proteins localise process Resolution and return to normal
What are some of the outcomes of acute inflammation?
Resolution
Suppuration
Organisation
Chronic inflammation
What is inflammation of the peritoneal cavity known as?
Peritonitis
What is inflammation of the meninges known as?
Meningitis
What is inflammation of the appendix known as?
Appendicitis
What is inflammation of the lungs known as?
Pneumonia
What is inflammation of the pleural cavity known as?
Pleurisy
What is the role of a neutrophil?
Mobile phagocytes that recognise foreign antigens, move towards it (chemotaxis), and adhere to the organism. Release granule contents (oxidants like H2O2 and enzymes like proteases), phagocytose and destroy the organism.
What role does fibrinogen play in inflammation?
Coagulation factor
Forms fibrin and clots up exudate
Localises inflammatory process
What are the four enzyme cascades that interact in the plasma?
Blood coagulation pathways
Fibrinolysis
Kinin system
Complement cascade
What is responsible for the pain felt in acute inflammation?
Bradykinin
Name some examples of molecules released from cells in inflammation
Histamine Serotonin Prostaglandins Leukotrienes Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids Platelet activating factor Cytokines and chemokines Nitric oxide Oxygen free radicals
What are the three immediate systemic effects of inflammation?
Pyrexia
Malaise
Neutrophilia
What are the three longer term systemic effects of acute inflammation?
Lymphadenopathy
Weight loss
Anaemia
What is pyaemia?
Discharge of pus to the bloodstream
What is granulation tissue?
“Universal patch” repair kit for all damage formed of new capillaries, fibroblasts, collagen and macrophages
How is cardiac output calculated?
CO = SV x HR
cardiac output = stroke volume x heart rate
How is blood pressure calculated?
BP = CO x SVR
blood pressure = cardiac output x systemic vascular resistance
