Inflammation
Inflammation: the most common and visible response of the body to injury
Purpose? When cells are damaged (may be by microorganisms, physical agents, chemical agents, etc.), the injury causes an inflammatory response to destroy or remove dead cells and debris
Inflammation of tissue or an organ is designated by the suffix –itis Examples: Appendicitis: inflammation of the appendix Myocarditis: inflammation of the heart If you see –itis you should know what it means
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Signs of Inflammation Redness Heat Swelling Pain
What causes each of these signs? Vasodilation: Increased blood flow to the area
What is the purpose of vasodilatation? If blood vessels are larger = more blood travels through them How is this beneficial?
Blood moves heat Bacteria will not reproduce as efficiently Brings in white blood cells
How Does Dilation Occur? When injured, all cells release chemical signals HISTAMINE is one of the main molecules released Histamine is a powerful vasodilator (dilates the blood vessels) It draws cells apart
When vessels dilate, they become “leaky” Causes water, vitamins, amino acids, and white blood cells to pour from the vessel When these substances are outside of the walls of the vessel, the result is swelling
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What is the purpose of the heat? Slows down bacteria reproduction
What is the purpose of swelling? It immobilizes the injury so you do not have more trauma Provides an area of protection
Pain is caused by pressure on nerve endings Also kinins (signaling molecules) stimulate nerve endings resulting in pain
Purpose of pain? To alert the individual to a problem and to keep the individual from causing further damage
What do we see at the cellular level during inflammation
Neutrophils Red blood cells Lymphocytes Macrophages Busy macrophages
Terms Associated with Inflammation Phagocytosis: Process by which a cell engulfs particles Principal phagocytes include: Neutrophils Monocytes Macrophages
Pus: Thick whitish-yellow fluid resulting from the accumulation of wbc, liquefied tissue, and cellular debris Common at infection sites
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Abscess: A local accumulation of pus anywhere in the body Example: boil—abscess in skin
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Ulcer: Area of tissue erosion Ulcers are concave—depressed below the level of surrounding tissue
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