Module 4

• What is the primary host defense mechanism against injury?

  Inflammatory reaction
• Why is the study of inflammation important in clinical medicine and surgery?

  It is encountered continuously in practice
• How should injury at the tissue level be understood in relation to cellular levels?

  It cannot be separated from cellular alterations
• What should students focus on while studying inflammation?

  General overview over specific details
• What are the key concepts related to inflammation that students should remember?

  • Inflammatory response is a primary defense mechanism
  • It is continuously encountered in clinical settings
  • Injury at tissue level relates to cellular changes
  • Focus on general overview, not just details
• How is inflammation best defined?

  As the vascular and cellular response to injury
• What is the identifying feature of inflammation?

  The reaction of blood vessels
• What are the main purposes of the inflammatory process?

  To destroy, dilute, or wall-off injurious agents
• What does repair involve in the context of inflammation?

  Replacing lost or destroyed cells with vital cells
• What is one way repair can occur?

  By regeneration of native parenchymal cells
• What is the more common method of repair?

  Fibroblastic scar formation
• Why are inflammation and repair generally beneficial?

  They prevent unchecked infections and promote healing
• What could happen if inflammation and repair become aberrant?

  They may become harmful to the host
• Who described the four cardinal signs of inflammation?

  Cornelius Celsus
• What are the four cardinal signs of inflammation?

  Rubor, tumor, calor, dolor
• Who added a fifth sign to inflammation?

  Galen
• What did Julius Cohnheim reveal about inflammation?

  The vascular alterations that underlie the response
• What process did Elie Metchnikoff discover?

  Phagocytosis
• What was Metchnikoff's conclusion about inflammation?

  It brings phagocytic cells to engulf bacteria
• What are the causes of inflammation?

  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Chemicals
  • Trauma
• How does the host reaction influence inflammation?

  It affects how inflammation is expressed
• What mediates the inflammatory response?

  Specific chemical substances like histamines
• What are the roles of nonspecific biochemical factors in inflammation?

  • Dilute effects of irritants
  • Act as physical barriers
  • Aid in destruction and removal of irritants
• What is an exudate?

  Fluid and cellular debris from inflammation
• How is inflammation in an organ or tissue identified?

  By the suffix "itis"
• How is inflammation traditionally classified?

  Into acute and chronic forms
• What is the duration of acute inflammation?

  Lasts for a few minutes to two days
• What characterizes acute inflammation?

  Exudation of fluids and emigration of leukocytes
• Which type of leukocytes predominantly emigrate during acute inflammation?

  Neutrophils
• How does acute inflammation respond to different injurious agents?

  It is generally the same regardless of the agent
• What characterizes subacute inflammation?

  Decline in vascular contribution and mixed leukocyte infiltrate
• What types of cells are present in subacute inflammation?

  Neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells
• How long can subacute inflammation last?

  A few days to a few weeks
• What is a characteristic of chronic inflammation?

  Presence of lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblast proliferation
• How does chronic inflammation differ from acute inflammation?

  Chronic inflammation is less uniform and longer lasting
• What factors can modify chronic inflammation's course and appearance?

  Many factors may influence its course and appearance
• What defines an acute clinical disease?

  It arises suddenly and progresses quickly
• How can an acute clinical disease relate to chronicity?

  It may have pathologic features of chronicity
• How does a chronic disease typically begin?

  Slowly and insidiously
• What is the duration of a chronic disease?

  It continues indefinitely or for a prolonged period