Inflammation and Immune Response

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to inflammation, the immune response, and associated physiological processes.

Inflammation

A localized response of the body to injury or infection, characterized by redness, heat, swelling, pain, and sometimes loss of function.

Cardinal Signs of Inflammation

The four main signs of inflammation are redness, swelling, heat, and pain.

Histamine

A potent vasodilator released by basophils and mast cells that initiates the inflammatory response.

Degranulation

The process by which basophils and mast cells release the contents of their granules, including histamine, during an inflammatory response.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels, which increases blood flow to an area; induced by histamine during inflammation.

Granuloma

A small area of inflammation composed of macrophages and other immune cells, often forming to isolate pathogens that cannot be eliminated.

Phagocytosis

The process by which certain cells, like neutrophils and macrophages, engulf and digest pathogens and debris.

Epinephrine

A hormone and medication that acts as a vasoconstrictor; used to counteract the effects of anaphylaxis.

Cytokines

A broad category of small proteins that are important in cell signaling in the immune response.

Regeneration vs. Repair

Regeneration restores tissues to their original structure and function, while repair results in scar tissue and does not restore original structure.

Prostaglandins

A group of lipids involved in maintaining inflammation and contributing to pain signaling in the body.

Anaphylactic Shock

A severe allergic reaction characterized by rapid vasodilation, leading to a critical drop in blood pressure.

Chemotactic Factors

Molecules that attract white blood cells to sites of inflammation.

Abscess

An area of localized inflammation that contains pus, often due to infection.

Reticuloendothelial System

A system of cells that includes macrophages and is involved in phagocytosis and immune response.

Interstitium

A tissue system that exists in the spaces between cells, which becomes more permeable during inflammation.

Diapedesis

The process by which white blood cells squeeze through blood vessel walls to reach sites of inflammation.

Fever

A temporary increase in body temperature, often in response to infection, resulting from an increase in the set point of the hypothalamic thermostat.