skin 2 Flashcards
What are some systemic factors that affect wound healing?
Systemic factors include good nutritional status and general health. Conditions like infection, impaired immunity, poor blood supply, diabetes mellitus, and cancer can reduce the rate of wound healing.
What local factors facilitate wound healing?
Local factors include a good blood supply to provide oxygen and nutrients, removal of waste products, and freedom from contamination by microbes, foreign bodies, or toxic chemicals.
What happens during the inflammation stage of wound healing?
In the first few hours, the cut surfaces become inflamed, and a blood clot (mainly fibrin) and cell debris fill the gap. Phagocytes, including macrophages, and fibroblasts migrate into the blood clot.
What occurs during the proliferation stage of wound healing?
Epithelial cells proliferate across the wound through the clot. The epidermis meets and grows upwards until full thickness is restored. The clot above the new tissue becomes the scab, which separates after 3-10 days.
What happens during the maturation stage of wound healing?
The granulation tissue is replaced by fibrous scar tissue, and rearrangement of collagen fibers occurs. Over time, the scar becomes less vascular and appears as a fine line after a few months.
