Acute inflammation
Acute Inflammation
Acute inflammation is a short-term process, usually appearing within a few minutes or hours and begins to cease upon the removal of the injurious stimulus. It involves a coordinated and systemic mobilization response locally of various immune, endocrine and vascular cells.
Pronunciation
Acute inflammation is pronounced as /əˈkjuːt ɪnfləˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/.
Etymology
The term "acute inflammation" is derived from the Latin words "acutus" meaning "sharp" and "inflammatio" meaning "setting on fire".
Definition
Acute inflammation is the body's initial response to cell injury. It is primarily achieved by the increased movement of plasma and leukocytes (especially granulocytes) from the blood into the injured tissues.
Causes
Acute inflammation is caused by harmful bacteria or tissue injury. The body's white blood cells release substances to protect the body and stimulate the healing process.
Symptoms
The five cardinal signs of acute inflammation are pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function.
Related Terms
- Inflammation: The complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants.
- Chronic Inflammation: Long-term inflammation which can last for several months and even years.
- Granulocytes: A type of white blood cell that has small granules, which contain proteins.
- Leukocytes: Also known as white blood cells, they are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders.
See Also
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