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INFLAMMATION – NOTES
1. Definition
Inflammation is the protective response of the body to injury.
Its goal is to eliminate the cause of injury, remove dead cells, and begin healing.
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2. Types of Inflammation
A. Acute Inflammation
Rapid onset (seconds to minutes)
Short duration (minutes to few days)
Dominated by neutrophils
B. Chronic Inflammation
Slow onset, long duration (weeks to years)
Dominated by macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells
Often associated with tissue destruction and fibrosis
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3. Cardinal Signs of Inflammation
1. Redness (Rubor) – due to vasodilation
2. Heat (Calor) – increased blood flow
3. Swelling (Tumor) – fluid accumulation
4. Pain (Dolor) – chemical mediators like bradykinin
5. Loss of function (Functio laesa) – due to pain/swelling
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4. Causes of Inflammation
Infections (bacterial, viral, fungal)
Tissue injury (trauma, burns, frostbite)
Chemical agents (toxins, acids)
Foreign bodies (splinters)
Immune reactions (autoimmune diseases, allergies)
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5. Components of Acute Inflammation
A. Vascular Changes
Vasodilation
Increased vascular permeability
Stasis → leukocyte accumulation
B. Cellular Events
1. Margination
2. Rolling (selectins)
3. Adhesion (integrins)
4. Transmigration (diapedesis)
5. Chemotaxis
6. Phagocytosis
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6. Chemical Mediators
Cell-derived
Histamine
Serotonin
Arachidonic acid metabolites (prostaglandins, leukotrienes)
Cytokines (TNF, IL-1)
Plasma-derived
Complement system
Kinins
Coagulation factors
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7. Outcomes of Acute Inflammation
Resolution (normal restoration)
Abscess formation
Fibrosis/scarring
Progression to chronic inflammation
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8. Chronic Inflammation Features
Persistent injury or infection
Infiltration by mononuclear cells
Tissue destruction
Fibrosis and angiogenesis
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9. Granulomatous Inflammation
Special type of chronic inflammation
Characterized by granulomas: small nodes of epithelioid cells + giant cells + lymphocytes
Examples:
Tuberculosis
Sarcoidosis
Foreign body granulomas