Intro to Inflammation Flashcards
Goes over the basic concepts of inflammation introduced first
What is inflammation?
A complex reaction involved with the repair process in response to an injury (or injurious agent)
Healing response
Repair involves replacement of injured tissue via…
- Cell regeneration
- Scar formation
- Both
The healing continuum is a spectrum between…
resolution and scar
What are the major players in the inflammatory process?
- White blood cells/leukocytes
- Blood vessels
- Connective tissue cells
- Extracellular matrix
Which cell is considered the immune cell?
White blood cells (leukocytes)
Which blood vessels are most involved in the inflammatory process?
Capillaries and post capillary venules
Which connective tissue cells are most involved in the inflammatory process?
Fibroblasts (lay down CT)
What are the major causes of inflammation?
- Physical
- Chemical
- Microbiological
- Immune responses
What are the two patterns of inflammation?
- Acute inflammatory response
- Chronic inflammatory response
Describe the histology of an acute inflammatory response
Most prominent and first to arrive are neutrophils
Macrophages show up later
Describe the symptoms of an acute inflammatory response
Rapid onset, short-lived symptomology
Describe the histology of a chronic inflammatory response
Lymphocytes and macrophages are involved leukocytes
Fibroblasts are laying scar tissue
Describe the symptoms of a chronic inflammatory response
Slow onset, long-lived symptoms appear late, more pronounced tissue damage
What are the cardinal signs of inflammation as defined by Virchow?
- calor (heat)
- tumor (swelling)
- rubor (redness)
- dolor (pain)
(also functio laesa, loss of function)
What is edema?
Accumulation of fluid within the extravascular compartment and interstitial tissues
What is an exudate?
Edema fluid with a high protein concentration (making it more dense) which frequently contains inflammatory cells
If an edema is inflammatory, what is the fluid it contains?
Exudate
When are exudates observed?
Early in acute inflammatory reactions produced by mild injuries
ie. sunburn, traumatic blisters
What is the specific gravity of an exudate?
> 1.015 (more dense)
What is an effusion?
Excess fluid in body cavities
ie. peritoneum or pleura
What is a transudate?
Edema fluid with low protein content (less dense)
If an edema is non-inflammatory, what is the fluid it contains?
Transudate
What is the specific gravity of a transudate?
< 1.015 (less dense)
A transudate is less dense, so it moves across the capillary wall by…
hemodynamic forces
