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Questions and Answers
What is inflammation?
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is a protective response to injury, infection, or other harmful stimuli.
What are the 5 cardinal signs of acute inflammation?
What are the 5 cardinal signs of acute inflammation?
- Redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of function (correct)
- Redness, swelling, pain, fatigue, and loss of function
- Redness, swelling, pain, fever, and loss of function
Chronic inflammation is characterized by a slow onset and a short duration.
Chronic inflammation is characterized by a slow onset and a short duration.
False (B)
What are the primary cells involved in chronic inflammation?
What are the primary cells involved in chronic inflammation?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an opportunistic infection?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an opportunistic infection?
The immune system is responsible for protecting the body against only microorganisms.
The immune system is responsible for protecting the body against only microorganisms.
What is the difference between innate and adaptive immunity?
What is the difference between innate and adaptive immunity?
What are the four types of hypersensitivity reactions?
What are the four types of hypersensitivity reactions?
Autoimmune disorders affect men more often than women.
Autoimmune disorders affect men more often than women.
What is immunodeficiency?
What is immunodeficiency?
Opportunistic infections are only caused by viruses.
Opportunistic infections are only caused by viruses.
What is AIDS?
What is AIDS?
Flashcards
Acute Inflammation
Acute Inflammation
A rapid, short-term inflammatory response to injury or infection.
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Inflammation
A prolonged inflammatory response lasting days to years.
Inflammation
Inflammation
A protective response eliminating the cause of cell injury, infection, or necrosis and initiating repair.
Vascular changes (inflammation)
Vascular changes (inflammation)
Alterations in blood vessel size (vasodilation) and permeability allowing fluid and proteins to enter the affected tissues.
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Cellular events (inflammation)
Cellular events (inflammation)
Recruitment and movement of immune cells (leukocytes) to the site of inflammation.
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Edema
Edema
Fluid accumulation in tissues, a common symptom of inflammation.
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Exudate
Exudate
Fluid rich in proteins and cellular debris in inflamed tissue.
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Transudate
Transudate
Fluid low in proteins, associated with non-inflammatory conditions.
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Acute Phase Proteins
Acute Phase Proteins
Proteins whose blood levels rise during inflammation.
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Neutrophils
Neutrophils
White blood cells that are the dominant cells in acute inflammation.
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Macrophages
Macrophages
White blood cells primarily involved in chronic inflammation; they are phagocytes that engulf debris and pathogens.
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Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes
White blood cells, including B and T cells, crucial in chronic inflammation, immune responses and adaptive immunity.
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Inflammation
- Inflammation is a protective response intended to eliminate the cause of cell injury, infectious agents, and necrotic cells, and to initiate repair.
- Components of inflammation include blood vessels, white blood cells and platelets, plasma proteins and chemical mediators (coagulation/fibrinolytic system, kinin system, complement system), and extracellular matrix and stromal cells (structural fibrous proteins, adhesive glycoproteins, proteoglycans, basement membrane).
- The immune response plays a crucial role in inflammation, with macrophages functioning in the elimination of microbes and dead tissue, along with mediators like cytokines and nitric oxide.
Components of Acute Inflammation
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Vascular Changes: Alterations in blood vessel caliber lead to vasodilation and increased blood flow. Changes in vasculature also permit plasma proteins to leave circulation (increased permeability).
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Cellular Events: Leukocytes emigrate from the microcirculation and accumulate in the focus of injury.
Increased Vascular Permeability
- Leads to protein-rich fluid and cells entering extravascular tissues.
- Increases osmotic pressure, causing more fluid to flow out of the blood into tissues, producing edema.
Edema
- Transudate: Mechanism: hydrostatic pressure imbalance across vascular endothelium; fluid content is low in protein (ultrafiltrate of blood plasma). Typical in noninflammatory conditions.
- Exudate: Mechanism: alteration in normal permeability of small blood vessels in area of injury; fluid content is high in protein. Typical in inflammatory conditions.
Types of Inflammation
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Acute Inflammation: Fast onset (minutes to hours), short duration (minutes to days), characterized by mainly neutrophils, usually mild and self-limiting tissue injury, and fibrosis.
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Chronic Inflammation: Slow onset (days to years), long duration, with infiltrates of monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes, often severe and progressive tissue injury and fibrosis.
External Manifestations of Acute Inflammation
- Heat
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pain
- Loss of function
Systemic Effects of Inflammation
- Fever (elevated body temperature)
- Elevated plasma levels of acute phase proteins
- Increased white blood cell count (leukocytosis)
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Decreased sweating
- Rigors/shivering
- Chills (perception of cold)
- Malaise
- Anorexia
Stimuli for Acute Inflammation
- Infections (bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites)
- Trauma (various chemical and physical agents - heat, cold, burns, radiation)
- Chemicals (acids, alkalis, bacterial toxins, metals)
- Tissue necrosis
- Foreign bodies
- Immunologic reactions
Morphological Patterns of Acute Inflammation
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Serous: Exudation of cell-poor fluid into spaces created by injury to surface epithelia or into body cavities (e.g., skin blisters).
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Fibrinous: Consequence of more severe injuries, resulting in greater vascular permeability that allows large molecules (such as fibrinogen) to pass the endothelium.
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Suppurative (Purulent): Collection of large amounts of pus (an exudate consisting of many neutrophils, debris of necrotic cells, and edema fluid).
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Ulcer: Local defect of the surface of an organ or tissue that is produced by sloughing (shedding) of inflamed necrotic tissue.
Outcomes of Acute Inflammation
- Complete resolution
- Healing by connective tissue (scarring or fibrosis)
- Progression to chronic inflammation
Chronic Inflammation
- Inflammation of prolonged duration (weeks to years)
- Characterized by infiltration with mononuclear cells (macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells), tissue destruction, and repair.
Immune Components of inflammation
- Macrophages: Dominant cells of chronic inflammation, involved in phagocytosis.
- B and T Lymphocytes: Important in cell-mediated immunity.
- Mast cells: Source of histamine in allergic reactions.
Tissue Repair
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Regeneration: Replacement of damaged cells by similar parenchymal cells, returning to a normal state. Typical in rapidly dividing epithelia (skin, intestines). Requires intact connective tissue.
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Scar Formation: Occurs when tissues are incapable of regeneration or supporting structures are severely damaged. Connective tissue is laid down.
Immunity
- The immune system protects against microorganisms and removes damaged/cancerous cells.
- Innate immunity: immediate, nonspecific protection (skin, mucous membranes).
- Adaptive immunity: takes 7-10 days to develop, specific to the antigen (cellular or humoral).
- T-cells: destroy antigen.
- B-cells: produce antibodies.
Altered Immune Responses
- Hypersensitivity: Inappropriate immune response to an antigen, leading to inflammation and destruction of healthy tissue. This includes four subtypes: type I (IgE-mediated), type II (cytotoxic), type III (immune complex-mediated), and type IV (cell-mediated).
- Autoimmune disorders: Normal defenses recognize self as foreign, leading to destruction of the body's own tissues. Examples: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis.
- Immunodeficiency: Diminished or absent immune response, increasing susceptibility to infections. Can be primary (genetic defect) or secondary (underlying disease, malnutrition, drugs).
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