Pathology Flashcards
What is acute inflammation?
Initial response of tissue to injury
Describe the onset of acute inflammation.
Early onset (seconds to minutes)
How long does acute inflammation last?
Short duration (hours to days)
What cells are involved in acute inflammation?
Neutrophils and monocytes
What steps are involved in acute inflammation?
Vascular and exudative component and recruitment of neutrophil polymorphs
What is the vascular component of acute inflammation?
Dilation of vessels
What is the exudative component of acute inflammation?
Vascular leakage of protein-rich fluid
What are the causes of acute inflammation?
Microbial infections, hypersensitivity reactions, physical agents, chemicals, bacterial toxins and tissue necrosis
What are some causes of microbial infections?
Bacteria, viruses
What are some causes of hypersensitivity reactions?
Parasites
What physical agents can cause acute inflammation?
Trauma, heat, cold
What chemicals can cause acute inflammation?
Corrosives, acids
Give a cause of tissue necrosis.
Ischaemic infarction
What are the 5 characteristics of acute inflammation?
Rubor (redness), calor (heat), tumor (swelling), dolor (pain) and loss of function
What is rubor?
Redness
What is calor?
Heat (only peripheral in acute inflammation)
What is tumor?
Swelling
What is dolor?
Pain
What causes redness in acute inflammation?
Dilation of small vessels
What causes swelling in acute inflammation?
Oedema or a physical mass
How are vessels affected in the acute inflammatory response process?
Changes in vessel calibre (gets wider) which increases vessel flow
How is vascular permeability affected in the acute inflammatory response process?
Increased vascular permeability which leads to formation of fluid exudate
How do neutrophil polymorphs reach the site of acute inflammation?
Increased vascular permeability which allows for the formation of cellular exudate
What are the stages of neutrophil polymorph emigration?
- Migration of neutrophils
- Adhesion of neutrophils
- Neutrophil emigration
- Diapedesis