Inflammation

[sysD]

Can someone enlighten me as to the homeostatic purpose of inflammation?

eg. muscle inflammation

[rktpro]

Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process. Inflammation is not a synonym for infection, even in cases where inflammation is caused by infection. Although infection is caused by a microorganism, inflammation is one of the responses of the organism to the pathogen.

Without inflammation, wounds and infections would never heal. Similarly, progressive destruction of the tissue would compromise the survival of the organism. However, chronic inflammation can also lead to a host of diseases.

It is of two types- acute and chronic

Basically, in acute, movement of leukocytes from blood to infected tissue is increased. Immune system and tissues present of the spot also help.Prolonged inflammation, known as chronic inflammation, leads to a progressive shift in the type of cells present at the site of inflammation and is characterized by simultaneous destruction and healing of the tissue from the inflammatory process.

[sysD]

Thank you, that was a very well thought-out answer.

 

*EDIT*

I just noticed that you copy-pasta'd your reply from wikipedia without citing a source. For shame, sir. For shame.

 

Are swelling, inflammation, and edema all the same thing?

Edited February 12, 2011 by sysD

[Mr Skeptic]

Thank you, that was a very well thought-out answer.

 

*EDIT*

I just noticed that you copy-pasta'd your reply from wikipedia without citing a source. For shame, sir. For shame.

 

Are swelling, inflammation, and edema all the same thing?

 

How about this for a well thought-out answer: maybe you should read the wikipedia article first if it is so helpful, and then ask about the things you don't understand?

 

But rktpro, he is right. Copying content without citing sources is plagiarism.

[SMF]

With some trepidation:

 

Swelling is enlargement. It refers to size increase.

 

Inflammation is a pathological process involving blood vessels (usually capillaries) and surrounding tissue. It describes degenerating and healing responses to damage from trauma, chemical agents, or infection.

 

Edema primarily refers to the accumulation of tissue fluid in the tissue surrounding capillary beds when there is inflammation.

 

Most of the capillary beds in our body reside in loose connective tissue that provide a space for the exchange of nutrients, waste, and gasses with most of the cells of our body. Edema, as a part of inflammation, involves an increase in the leakage of blood filtrate (e.g. plasma) into this tissue. There are a variety of immune cells that live in loose connective tissue that mediate inflammation and edema, and when they detect some problem they release chemicals that attract other immune and connective tissue cells and also cause capillary beds to greatly increase their normal slow leakage of fluid into the tissue. This brings in more immune cells, circulating antibodies, and nutrients needed to put the situation back in order.

 

There is normally a slight excess of fluid leaked into tissues and this is carried off in the lymph vessel system. The excess fluid is first filtered through lymph nodes to check for foreign antigens and then conducted back to the blood via entry to the subclavian veins in the neck. The lymph nodes are key for detecting infection and when there is inflammation the flow through them increases and they are key for regulating the immune response. SM

Edited February 12, 2011 by SMF

[rktpro]

Actually, I didn't copied. We had a presentation on biology and I learned the same definitions as given in wikipedia. When I came across your thread I remembered the same and typed it in here.

[alpha2cen]

Inflammation is a pathological process involving blood vessels (usually capillaries) and surrounding tissue. It describes degenerating and healing responses to damage from trauma, chemical agents, or infection.

 

 

I had thought about human defense resources before.

 

Total available defense resources = germ defense resources + hurt recovery resources.

 

When we suffer big hurt, we may have dangerous situation, because big injury makes total available defense resources value zero or minus.

The case is like this

1)Total available defense resources < hurt recovery resources , (very big injury)

2)Total available defense resources < germ defense resources + hurt recovery resources, ( germ infection makes problem)

3)Total available defense resources > germ defense resources + hurt recovery resources

 

1), 2) case is dangerous and 3) case is safe.

Edited February 13, 2011 by alpha2cen

[sysD]

Thanks, SMF.

 

 

Most of the capillary beds in our body reside in loose connective tissue that provide a space for the exchange of nutrients, waste, and gasses with most of the cells of our body.

 

This is a good summary. Does the connective tissue have a clinical name?

 

One point of clarification, please.

 

... and when they detect some problem they release chemicals that attract other immune and connective tissue cells...

 

Was this a typo, or do these immune cells actually attract more connective tissue (resulting in tissue contraction/elevated levels of loose connective tissue available for waste/nutrient exchange)?

[SMF]

SysD. I don't think there is a separate clinical name for loose connective tissue. Clinicians learn this in the first year of medical school in basic science courses. It consists of delicate collagen (mostly type 1) and elastin filaments that provide structure while keeping enough space for tissue fluid, immune cells and fibroblasts which maintain and repair the fibrous component. The immune cells consist of macrophages, eosinophils, neutrophils, T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes and their progeny (plasma cells), and mast cells. These cells are either white blood cells, or their descendants, although mast cells are not usually seen in the blood. Also, of course, this space contains extensive blood capillary beds and lymph capillaries.

 

The hormonal interactions between all of these cells is very complicated, but they work in concert to control infection from foreign organisms and repair damage. Any alterations in the connective tissue itself is performed by fibroblasts. This usually involves rebuilding collagen and elastin, pulling together wound openings, and sometimes building bulwarks to wall off infections. SM