Medical Terminology: Inflammation Quiz

Study Notes

Lecture on inflammation, delivered by Dr. Mohamed M. Metwally, Professor of veterinary pathology, on 20/10/2024.
Inflammation is a progressive reaction to injury in vascularized tissue.
Inflammation originates from the Latin word 'inflammare' meaning 'something on fire'.
Inflammation is a protective mechanism.
Key purpose of inflammation: to dilute, isolate and eliminate the causative agent; and to repair tissue damage as a result of the injury.

Acute inflammation: a short-term process (a few hours to days), usually appearing minutes/hours after initial exposure. The process progresses rapidly to resolution or chronic inflammation.
- Cardinal signs of inflammation (Gross lesions):
  - Redness (rubor)
  - Heat (calor)
  - Swelling (tumor)
  - Pain (dolor)
  - Loss of function (functiolaesa)
- Microscopic lesions:
  - Vascular congestion
  - Leukocytic infiltration
  - Presence of exudate
Chronic inflammation: a prolonged process (weeks to years), characterized by chronic inflammatory cell infiltration and fibroplasia.
- Causes:
  - Failure of the acute inflammatory response to eliminate the causative agent
  - Repeated episodes of acute inflammation
  - Unique biochemical characteristics/virulence factors in causative agents
- Gross picture:
  - Grey/white color
  - Firm consistency due to fibroblast proliferation and fibrous connective tissue deposition
  - Irregular shape due to haphazard leukocyte accumulation and fibrosis
- Microscopic picture:
  - Inflammatory cell infiltrate (lymphocytes, macrophages)
  - Proliferation of fibroblasts and deposition of collagen

Distribution:
- Focal (single inflamed area)
- Multifocal (multiple inflamed foci)
- Locally extensive (involving a considerable area)
- Diffuse (involving the entire organ)
Severity: inflammation can be mild, moderate, or severe based on the extent of injury and tissue damage.
Duration: inflammation can be peracute, acute, or chronic based on the length of time the process persists.