Intro to inflammation Flashcards
What is inflammation?
Protective response to injury and damaged cells
What are examples of injury that cause inflammation?
Infectious agents Temperature Radiation Cancer Necrotic cells Trauma
What are the 5 signs of inflammation?
Swelling Heat Loss of function Redness Pain
Is inflammation part of the immune response? What main cells are involved? What mediates inflammation?
Yes
Leukocytes (WBCs)
Chemical factors
When does inflammation stop?
Once injurious stimulus removed or mediators inhibited
What are the 4 main components of inflammation?
Leukcocytes (WBCs)
Plasma
Blood vessels (endthelial cells)
Cells and extracellular matrix
What proteins are present in plasma that aid inflammation?
Clotting factors
Fibrinogen
Bradykinin
Complement
What leukocytes aid inflammation?
Polymorphonuclear WBCs (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils) Mononuclear WBCs (lymphocytes, monocytes) Platelets
How do blood vessels and endothelial cells help inflammation?
Allow movement of WBCs
Apart from WBCs, what cells in extracellular matrix aid inflammation?
Mast cells (round cells, oval nuclei) Fibroblasts (long thin cells, oval nuclei)
What are the functions of extracellular matrix?
Reservoir for water and growth factors
Cells adhere to ECM
Cells migrate and proliferate within ECM
Extracellular matrix consists of locally secreted proteins that assemble into spaces around cells. What fibrous components make up ECM?
Collagen
Elastin
Ahesive glycoproteins
Proteogylcans
What are chemical mediators derived from?
Plasma or cells
What triggers the release of chemical mediators of inflammation?
Inflammatory stumulus
Or produced by necrotic cells themself
What do chemical mediators bind to? Are they long or short lived? What do they cause?
Specific receptor
Short lived
Cause direct enzyme activity or mediate oxidative damage
Give example of vasoactive amines that act as chemical mediators of inflamation?What is their main source?
Histmaine - from mast cells
Serotonin - from platelets and mast cells
What do vasoactive amines cause?
Dilation or arterioles
Constriction of large areries
Induction of endothelial gaps
Give examples of arachidonic acid metabolites that act as chemical mediators
Prostaglandins
Leukotrienes
Lipoxins
What long does acute inflammation last? What are the main characteristics?
Short
Oedema and neutrophils
How long does chronic inflammation last? What are the main characteristics?
Long duration
Lymphocytes, macrophages, blood vessel proliferation, fibrosis, cell degeneration
Which white blood cells dominate in acute inflammation? What about chronic infalmmation
Acute - neutrophils
Chronic - lymphocytes and macrophages
What is exudate?
Fluid emitted from a wound
Escape of fluid, proteins and blood cells from blood vessel into interstitial tissues
Is exudate present in chronic or acute inflammation?
Acute
What is transudate?
Fluid emitted due to increased hydrostatic pressure or decreased osmotic colloid pressure
How does transudate differ to exudate?
Exudate - inflammation, contains protein and blood cells
Transudate - not caused by inflammation, contains less proteins and clearer
What is pus?
Inflammatory exudate rich in WBCs and cell debris
What does the suffix itis mean?
Inflammation
What is the suffix osis?
Non-inflammatory lesion which causes tissue damage
What is the suffix apathy?
Problem or lesion in an organ
Unknown cause
What is peracuate inflammation?
In-between acute and chronic
Very severe but shorter duration than chronic
What are the degrees of inflammation?
Mild
Moderate
Severe
What are the durations of inflammation?
Peracute (minutes to hours)
Acute (hours to days)
Subacute (days)
Chronic (months +)
What are the distributions of inflammation?
Focal - one area Multifocal Extensive - large focal area Disseminated - multiple areas thought organ Diffuse - covered
