Chapter 5: Inflammation and Healing

(Chapters 5, 6, 7, & 20) *Make sure that you understand all of the terms you are studying, if you don’t know what a term means, look it up before you continue studying. Take your thinking a step further by asking yourself “why” as you are reviewing material. This will lead to understanding of the material versus memorization which will better help you answer questions. *Ensure that you understand all highlighted terms in each chapter * Answer the question and supplemental questions included with the original question Chapter 5: Inflammation and Healing 1. List and describe each of the 3 body defense mechanisms: a. 1st line – mechanical barriers: unbroken skin and mucous membranes, secretions such as tears and gastric juices. b. 2nd line – nonspecific mechanisms: phagocytosis, inflammation c. 3rd line – specific defense: production of specific antibodies or cell-mediated immunity. 2. What is the definition of inflammation? A normal defense mechanism in the body and is intended to localize and remove an injurious agent. The bodies nonspecific response to tissue injury, resulting in redness, swelling, warmth, pain, and sometimes loss of function. 3. What are possible causes of inflammation? Direct physical damage, caustic chemicals, ischemia or infarction, allergic reaction, extremes of hot or cold, foreign bodies, infection. 4. Why is inflammation helpful to the body? It’s the body’s way of signaling the immune system to heal and repair damaged tissue, as well as defend itself against foreign invaders, such as viruses/bacteria. 5. Which cells phagocytize bacteria and microbes? Neutrophils and macrophages. 6. Overall, what is the role of chemical mediators in inflammation? They affect blood vessels and nerves in the damaged areas. a. What is cytokines specific role? Serve as communicators in the tissue fluids, sending messages to lymphocytes and macrophages, the immune system, or the hypothalamus to induce fever. b. How do anti-inflammatory drugs work to reduce inflammation? They reduce the production of prostaglandins, and those are the chemicals that promote inflammation, pain, and fever, 7. Why does vasoconstriction happen immediately, but then vasodilation occurs? • Nerve reflexes at the site of the injury cause immediate transient vasoconstriction, then the rapid release of chemical mediators result in vasodilation (relaxation of smooth muscle causing an increase in the diameter of arterioles.) 8. What are the cardinal signs of local inflammation & what causes each one? • Redness (rubor or erythema), heat, swelling, and pain • Redness and warmth are caused by increased blood flow into the damaged area. • Swelling is caused by shift of protein and fluid into the interstitial space