Inflammation Flashcards
What is exudate?
Exudate (also called pus) is fluid and the dissolved materials within that leaks from blood vessels into/onto nearby tissues. Exudate may ooze from cuts or areas of inflammation.
What is the nature of serous exudate?
Watery fluid found in blisters etc.
What is suppurative exudate?
Cloudy fluid that contains white blood cells and bacteria
What is haemorrhagic exudate?
Bloody fluid that indicates vascular damage.
During inflammation what is the purpose of endothelial cell retraction?
Increases the width of slip pores allowing proteins to leak out
During inflammation, what is achieved by the proteins leaking out after endothelial cell retraction?
Clotting proteins form clots in the interstitial fluid keeping the antigens and antibodies in the same place
Why does swelling initially feel soft then harden?
Initially the interstitial space is filled with exudate, clots then form and the swelling becomes harder
How do complement proteins affect inflammation?
Compliment proteins amplify the antigen/antibody complexes (this is the complement cascade). Inflammation increases i.e. volume of histamine and prostaglandins increases
What is responsible for the pain of inflammation?
Prostaglandins and bradykinin
What is the process of white blood cell delivery to damaged tissue?
Increased capillary flow increases filtration causing blood to become more concentrated. The plasma that usually runs against the endothelium leaks out, allowing white blood cells that are usually in the centre of vessels to touch the sides. Neutrophils reach slip pores and ooze out
What white blood cells predominantly are in new sites of inflammation?
Neutrophils
What white blood cells predominantly are in old sites of inflammation?
Macrophages
What are the main systemic affects of inflammation?
Lymph adenopathy
Leucocytosis
Fever
What is the process of lymph adenopathy?
Increased lymph node size. An increase in capillary permeability causes more fluid to drain into the interstitial spaces increasing tissue hydrostatic pressure which is then drained into the lymphatic system which increases in pressure. Lymph nodes can accumulate scar tissue and be left permanently hard and large
What is leukocytosis?
Increased production of lymphocytes which leads to an elevated white blood count in the blood
What is the main pathophysiological cause of fever?
Neutrophils
How do neutrophils cause fever?
Neutrophils release pyrogens that reset the hypothalamus thermostat.
What stimulates inflammation?
Tissue damage
Antigens
What are the two different types of tissue damage signals?
Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs)
Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs)
What happens once mast cells are activated?
They release histamines, cytokines & lipid mediators (leukotrienes & prostaglandins). These chemicals travel around and cause endothelial cell retraction, the endothelial cells release nitric oxide which increases the vasodilation.
What are the four causes of cellular injury?
Hypoxia
Toxins
Infectious agents
Physical injury
What is extravasation?
Extravasation is the leakage of a fluid out of its contained space into the surrounding area, especially blood or blood cells from vessels. In the case of inflammation, it refers to the movement of white blood cells through the capillary wall, into the surrounding tissues.
How do complement proteins attract leukocytes?
Chemotaxis and by tagging the pathogenic surface with C3b which the leukocytes recognise
What are the 5 cardinal signs of inflammation?
Swelling
Erythema (redness)
Heat
Pain
Loss of function
