Inflammation and Immune Response Vocabulary

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from lecture notes on inflammation, immune response, and clinical nursing considerations.

Inflammation

The body's protective response to injury, infection, or tissue damage.

Acute inflammation

Short-term inflammatory response that happens quickly after injury or infection.

Purpose of inflammation

To protect the body, remove damage or infection, and begin healing.

Five signs of inflammation

Pain, redness, heat, swelling, and loss of function.

Pain (sign of inflammation)

Caused by inflammatory chemicals irritating and sensitizing nerve endings.

Redness (erythema)

Caused by increased blood flow to the injured area.

Heat (sign of inflammation)

Caused by increased blood flow to the area.

Swelling

Caused by fluid leaking from blood vessels into surrounding tissues.

Loss of function

Decreased movement or function caused by pain and swelling.

Inflammatory mediators

Chemicals released during inflammation that cause changes such as pain, vasodilation, and increased blood vessel permeability.

Histamine

Inflammatory mediator that causes vasodilation and increased blood vessel permeability.

Prostaglandins

Inflammatory chemicals that contribute to pain, swelling, and fever.

Cytokines

Chemical messengers that help control the immune and inflammatory response.

Vasodilation

Widening of blood vessels that increases blood flow to an injured area.

Increased vascular permeability

State in which blood vessels become more leaky, allowing fluid and immune cells to enter tissues.

Neutrophils

White blood cells that quickly move to an injured area to fight infection and remove damaged material.

Macrophages

Immune cells that remove damaged cells and microorganisms and help with healing.

Leukocytes

White blood cells involved in the immune response.

Exudate

Fluid, proteins, and cells that move from blood vessels into injured tissue during inflammation.

CRP (C-reactive protein)

Blood test that increases with inflammation and can help monitor inflammatory conditions.

ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate)

Nonspecific blood test that increases with inflammation, can increase within about $24\text{--}48\,\text{hours}$ after inflammation begins.

PCT (procalcitonin)

Blood test that can increase with bacterial infection and may reflect infection severity.

WBC count

Measures the number of white blood cells and can increase with infection or inflammation.

Normal WBC count

Approximately $4,500\text{--}11,000/\text{mm}^3$.

Infection

Invasion and multiplication of harmful microorganisms in the body.

Inflammation vs infection

Inflammation is the body's protective response, while infection occurs when harmful microorganisms invade and multiply.

Postoperative inflammation

Normal inflammatory response caused by tissue injury from surgery.

Postoperative incision

Cut made during surgery that must heal through inflammation and tissue repair.

Normal postoperative inflammation

Expected finding of some redness, warmth, swelling, and pain around a new incision.

Signs of possible postoperative infection

Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pain, fever, or purulent drainage.

Purulent drainage

Thick drainage containing pus that may indicate infection.

Antibiotics

Medications used to treat bacterial infections.

NSAIDS

Medications that reduce pain and inflammation.

Cold therapy

Treatment that can help reduce swelling and inflammation.

Rest

Allows the body to conserve energy and support healing.

Inflammatory response sequence

Injury → inflammatory chemicals released → vasodilation → increased blood flow → increased permeability → fluid and immune cells enter tissue → healing begins.

Tissue injury

Damage to cells or tissues that can trigger inflammation.

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment.

Fever

Elevated body temperature that can occur during an inflammatory or infectious response.

Acute inflammatory response

Rapid response involving blood vessels, inflammatory chemicals, and immune cells.

Chemotaxis

Movement of immune cells toward the area of injury or infection.

Phagocytosis

Process in which immune cells engulf and destroy microorganisms or damaged cells.

Vascular response

Changes in blood vessels during inflammation, including vasodilation and increased permeability.

Cellular response

Movement of immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages into injured tissue.

Patient-centered inflammation care

Monitoring symptoms, managing pain, protecting the injured area, and recognizing signs of infection.

Nursing priority with inflammation

Assess the patient, monitor changes, manage symptoms, and identify complications early.