ICS Flashcards
what is inflammation?
It is hard to define a reaction to injury or infection that involves neutrophils and macrophages.
When can inflammation be good?
Infection and injury
When is inflammation bad?
- Autoimmunity
- When there is over-reaction to a stimulus
How is inflammation classified?
- Acute
- Chronic
What is acute inflammation clasifed by?
- Sudden onset
-Short duration - Usually resolves
Example appendicitis
What are the cells involved in Inflammation
- Neutrophils
- Macrophages
- Lymphocytes
- Endothelial cells
- Fibroblasts
What are neutrophil polymorphs?
They are short lived cells that are first on the scene of acute inflammation
They contain cytoplasmic granules that are full of enzymes used to kill bacteria.
They will usually die at the site of an infection but release chemicals to signal other inflammatory cells such as macrophages
What are macrophages?
They are long lived cells (weeks to months) that have phagocytic properties.
They ingest bacteria and debris and carry them away
Can present antigens to lymphocytes
What are Lymphocytes?
Longest living cells involved (years)
They produce chemicals which will attract other inflammatory cells, they have memory for past infections and antigens
What are endothelial cells?
They line capillary blood vessels in areas of inflammation
How are endothelial cells involved in inflammation
They become sticky in areas of inflammation so cells like macrophages and neutrophils stick to them
They become more porous to allow cells to flow in
They grow into areas of damage to form capillaries so more cells can get to area
What do fibroblasts do in acute inflammation?
Long lived cells
Form collagen in areas of chronic inflammation and repair.
What are the steps of acute inflammation
- Initial reaction of tissue to injury
- Vascular component-dilation of vessels
- Exudative component- vascular leakage of protein rich fluid
- Cellular exudate
What are causes of acute inflammation?
- microbial infections e.g., pyogenic bacteria, viruses
- Hypersensitivity reaction e.g., TB, parasites, allergens
- Physical agents e.g., physical trauma, ionising radiation, heat
- Chemicals
- Bacterial toxins
- Tissue necrosis
Macroscopic appearances of acute inflammation
Rubor- redness due to dilation of small blood vessels
Calor- increase in skin temperature, due to increased blood flow and vascular dilation. Also, fever
Tumor- swelling results from fluid from exudate accumulating in extravascular space
Dolor- Pain
Reduced function
What are the outcomes of inflammation?
- Resolution
- Suppuration
- Organisation
- Progression to chronic inflammation
What is resolution?
The problem goes away
What us suppuration?
Pus formation
What is organisation?
There is healing by fibrosis (scar formation) when there is substantial damage lack of ability for the cells to regenerate.
Dead tissue and inflammatory exudate are removed from the area
Defect becomes filled with specialised vascular growth tissue
What happens in the early stages of acute inflammation?
Oedema fluid, fibrin and neutrophil polymorphs accumulate in the extracellular spaces of damaged tissue. The presence of the cellular component (neutrophil polymorph) is essential to the diagnosis.
What is the acute inflammatory response process?
- Changes in vessel calibre and increased vessel flow
- Increased vascular permeability and formation of fluid exudate (cells leaking out of blood vessels into surrounding tissue)
- Formation of cellular exudate- emigration of NP’s into EV space
How is blood flow regulated in inflammation?
By smooth muscle at precapillary sphincters ,in acute inflammation they relax which increases blood flow
Why does fluid accumulate in inflammation?
Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure forces more fluid out at aretiloar end and also forces proteins out which reduces oncotic pressure so less fluid is absorbed in the venous end
What causes the increased vascular permeablity?
- Immediate transient-chemical mediators, e.g. histamine, NO, C5a
- Immediate sustained- severe direct vascular injury
- Delayed prolonged- endothelial injury