Inflammation Flashcards
Define inflammation?
Reaction of living vascularised tissue to sub-lethal cellular injury. Evolutionary development to protect against infection and trauma.
Name the function of inflammation?
Remove cause of injury and initiate repair
Name the causes of inflammation?
Infection tissue destruction- mechanical trauma, chemical injury, radiation
Why are vascular changes in inflammation important?
Dilation and increased blood flow to injured area enables rapid delivery of inflmatory cells and mediators.
Name the local cardinal signs for Acute inflammation.
RUBOR – redness CALOR – heat TUMOR – swelling DOLOR – pain LOSS OF FUNCTION
What causes loss of function in acute inflammation?
Loss of function is due to swelling and pain
What are exudates?
What comes out of leaky capillaries fluid, cells, proteins including fibrin, antibodies etc. think of exudes
What is the function of exudate?
Fluid dilutes pathogen and allows soluble mediators to spread.
What does histamine lead to?
Vasodilation Increased vascular permeability
What is formed in an acute inflammation?
Exudate is formed
What is the main cell invoved in acute inflammation?
Neutrophils
In acute inflammation, what needs to occur for tissue to return back to normal?
Tissue cells need to contain cells that can regenerate to replace lost cells Little structural damage done- cells need a framewrok to build on
What happens if tissue loss is too great and cells unable to regenerate?
Replace normal tissue with fibirous scar tissue
What hinders repair?
Poor nutrition Protein- needed for collagen production Vitamin C- needed by fibroblasts to make collagen Vitamin A- required for epithelial regeneration Mineral dificiency-Zinc Suppressed inflammation- Diabetes Old age steriods
Name the complications of repair for acute inflammation?
Keloid formation Excess collagen deposition contractures
Name the histological features of acute inflammation?
Nuetrophils predominate eosinophils and mast cells are there
What is chronic inflammation?
Inflammation of prolonged duration in which active inflammation, tissue destruction and attempts at repair occur simultaneously
What are the causes of chronic inflammation?
Persistent damage Persistent infection (HCV, TB) Prolonged exposure to toxic agent (uric acid) Autoimmunity (RA, SLE) Foreign body (splinter, silica)
Name the cells of chronic inflammation?
Macrophages Lymphocytes and plasma cells
Name what can be formed in chronic inflammation?
granulation tissue
Histological features of Chronic inflmmation?
presence of granulation tissue, Macrophages Lymphocytes and nuetrophil exudate
What is granulomatous inflammation?
Particular form of chronic inflammation showing granuloma formation
What is a granuloma?
Cluster of macrophages Involves specific immune reaction T cells
What are the causes of granulomatous inflammation?
Infection – TB, fungi Foreign material Reaction to tumours Immune diseases (sarcoid, Crohn’s)



