Ch. 9: Inflammation and Dysfunctional Wound Healing

These flashcards cover key concepts related to inflammation and dysfunctional wound healing, summarizing important terms and their definitions from the lecture notes.

Inflammation

A coordinated response by the body's immune system to injury or infection, aimed at walling off the injured area, preventing the spread of damage, and bringing necessary defenses to the location.

Acute Inflammation

A rapid onset inflammatory response that terminates quickly, characterized by increased vascular permeability, cellular chemotaxis, and a systemic response.

Vascular Permeability

The ability of blood vessels to allow the passage of fluids and white blood cells to the site of injury, facilitated by chemical mediators like histamine.

Phagocytosis

The process by which white blood cells engulf and digest foreign matter and debris at an injury site.

Leukocytosis

An increase in the number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the blood, commonly observed during inflammatory responses.

C-reactive protein (CRP)

An acute phase protein produced by the liver in response to cytokines, indicating active inflammation and used as a marker for various conditions.

Prostaglandins

Lipids that are produced at the site of injury and play various roles including promoting inflammation, pain, and fever.

Chronic Inflammation

A prolonged inflammatory response that can last for weeks or months, often resulting from persistent infection or continuous exposure to irritants.

Granuloma

A localized collection of macrophages transformed into epithelioid cells, typically formed in response to chronic inflammation.

Keloid Formation

A type of dysfunctional wound healing characterized by hyperplastic epithelialization leading to the development of a hypertrophic scar.

Debridement

The medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to promote healing and re-epithelialization of a wound.

Fistula

An abnormal connection that forms between two structures, often resulting from dysfunctional healing or inflammation.