PATHOLOGY - UNIT 3 - Inflammation

Question 1

What is Inflammation?

Answer 1

Inflammation is the sum total of the body’s reaction and responses to the event of injury.
- Is a reaction to injury in which cells and fluids act to neutralize or restrict the injurious agent and subsequently repair the damage cell.

• Tissues react to local injury, foreign invasion or irritation by producing an inflammatory response. It is nature’s way of correcting or protecting the body from injurious agents.

Question 2

What are the causes of inflammation?

Answer 2

Physical agents such as splinters, glass, ultra violet light, extreme heat or cold. Chemical irritants such as poison, acid, venom, irritating gases (chlorine).
Infectious agents such as bacteria, fungi, virus, worms, insects. Immunologic reactions such as autoimmune disease, allergic inflammation.

Question 3

What are the 4 steps involved in the inflammatory process

Answer 3

Inflammatory Process
In acute inflammation, a relatively orderly and predictable series of reactions will follow.
After the triggering event occurs and bacteria enter and multiply.
1. Increased blood flow to the region, known as congestion. Arteries to the site of inflammation will dilate, causing local hyperemia (an excess amount of blood in a body part).

2. Exudate collects at site of infection, which walls off the area from the rest of the body, caused by the presence of fibrin in the exudate.
3. Leukocytes accumulate at the site of infection, utilizing diapedesis.
4. Leukocytes combine with microbes and toxins to form a yellow-greenish creamy mixture known as pus, which collects at the infection site. Pus is composed of dead bacteria, exudate, dead tissue cells, and WBCs.

Question 4

What are the Cardinal signs and symptoms of inflammation? (RASPH)

Answer 4

The Cardinal signs and symptoms of inflammation are:

(Latin medical term in italics)

1. Heat / calor : due to increased blood flow to the area.
2. Redness / rubor : due to increased blood flow to the area .
3. Swelling / tumor : excess fluid and exudate in the area causes swelling.
4. Pain / dolor : excess fluid and exudate in the area causes swelling which press on the nerve endings to create pain.
5. Altered function : caused by disturbances of function due to interference with nerves, destruction of tissues and movement of inflammatory exudate.

Question 5

What are the 6 types of inflammatory lesions

Answer 5

Types of Inflammatory Lesions

1. Vesicle
2. Furuncle (boil)
3. Carbuncle
4. Pustule
5. Ulcer
6. Abscess

Question 6

What is Abscess?

Answer 6

Abscess is a type of an inflammatory lesion where a cavity containing pus is surrounded by an inflamed tissue.

Its a localized collection of pus in any part of the body, formed as a result of suppuration (process of forming pus) in a localized infection.

Question 7

What is an Ulcer?

Answer 7

An Ulcer is an circumscribed, crater-like lesion of skin or mucous membranes resulting from necrosis that accompanies some inflammation.
Usually seen as sores on the lining of your stomach or small intestine.
The most common causes of peptic ulcers are infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Question 8

What is a Vesicle?

Answer 8

Vesicle is a LARGE blister.

Blister ( < 5mm) 
Large vesicles ( > 5mm) are termed bullae.

A Vesicle is a rounded elevation of tissue containing a clear or serous fluid. Does NOT contain pus.

Question 9

What is a Furuncle

Answer 9

A Furuncle is a boil, which is formed due to a localized suppurative staphylococcal infection originating in a gland or hair follicle.

Furuncles are abscesses located in the deeper layers of the skin with a solid core causing pain, swelling and redness.

With a furuncle, the inflamed tissue in the center forms a solid core of dead tissues that will either be spontaneously reabsorbs, extruded (forced out) or needs to be surgically removed.

Question 10

What is a Carbuncle?

Answer 10

A Carbuncle consists of several communicating boils (furuncles) in the same area, each having its own core .
Pus will drain to the skin area.
Common sites: neck, back and buttock.

Question 11

What is a Pustule?

Answer 11

Pustule: A small elevation of skin filled with pus, as in a pimple.

Question 12

What does Exudate mean?

Answer 12

Exudate is the fluid, cells and other substances that have been released (escaped) from cells or blood vessels usually as a result of inflammation.
There are 3 types of Exudate…

Question 13

What does Exudation mean?

Answer 13

Exudation is the actual escape of the fluids, cells and other substances from the blood vessels and deposited in or on the tissues.

Question 14

What are the 3 types of Exudate?

Answer 14

The three types of Exudate are:

1. Purulent (suppurative) exudate – an exudate consisting largely or solely of pus. This may also be called suppurative exudate.
2. Hemorrhagic exudate – any exudate that contains blood.
3. Serous exudate – contains a clear, thin fluid without inflammatory material.

Question 15

What are the 3 outcomes of inflammation?

Answer 15

The 3 Outcomes of Inflammation (that’s when the process has overcome the injurious agent, the next step is about repairing damaged tissue) are:

a. Repair – is the process of healing in which the affected area is filled with connective tissue and when healing may leave a scar (cicatrix).
b. Resolution – is the termination of an inflammatory reaction with the affected area returning to its natural state and function.
c. Regeneration – is the replacement of damaged tissue with identical tissue.