Inflammation and Injury - Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terms from the inflammation lecture notes.

Inflammation

The body's protective response to injury or infection, involving vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, and leukocyte recruitment.

Vasodilation

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

Vascular permeability

Capillaries become leaky, allowing fluid, proteins, and white blood cells to leak into tissue.

Edema

Excess fluid accumulation in tissues due to leakage from vessels and/or impaired reabsorption.

Transudate

Clear, watery edema fluid with low protein, produced by non-inflammatory fluid movement.

Exudate

Edematous fluid rich in protein and cells (often with inflammation or infection).

Pus

Thick, yellow-green fluid containing dead neutrophils, bacteria, and tissue debris.

Abscess

Localized collection of pus that is walled off (loculated) within tissue.

Third spacing

Fluid shifts into interstitial spaces or body cavities where it is not readily reabsorbed.

Acute inflammation

Short-term inflammatory response that typically resolves within days; neutrophils predominate.

Chronic inflammation

Prolonged inflammation (>2 weeks or longer) often with macrophages and lymphocytes.

Neutrophils

First responders to acute inflammation, especially bacterial infection.

Lymphocytes

White blood cells associated with viral infections and adaptive immunity.

ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate)

Blood test measuring inflammation by how quickly red blood cells settle; higher rates indicate inflammation.

CRP (C-reactive protein)

An acute-phase protein that rises in response to inflammation.

CBC with differential

Complete blood count that shows total WBC and the distribution of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.

Kinins (bradykinin)

Mediators that promote vasodilation and increased vascular permeability.

Histamines

Mediators released by mast cells causing vasodilation and increased permeability.

Prostaglandins

Mediators that promote vasodilation, pain, and fever during inflammation.

Leukotrienes

Mediators that promote chemotaxis and increased vascular permeability.

Left shift

Increase in immature neutrophils in the blood, indicating acute bacterial infection (common in adults).

Right shift

In pediatrics, a different pattern in white cell differential; not commonly used for adults.

E. coli

Common bacterial pathogen and frequent cause of infection treated with antibiotics.

Peritonitis

Infection/inflammation of the peritoneal cavity fluid.

Ascites

Fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity, often from liver disease or malnutrition.

Diuretics

Medications that promote fluid removal to reduce edema or ascites.

Malnutrition

Protein deficiency that can worsen edema by lowering plasma oncotic pressure.

Hypoxia

Inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues, potentially causing cellular injury.

Necrosis

Death of cells or tissue due to injury, hypoxia, or toxins.