sequence of acute inflammation
Last reviewed 01/2018
The drama of acute inflammation is usually played out within the microcirculation - arterioles, capillaries and venules - of vascularized connective tissue.
Essentially, there are four main stages:
- increased blood flow
- increased vascular permeability
- increased emigration of cellular and humoral elements out of blood vessels and into the damaged area
- defence and repair mechanisms at site
There is a highly intertwined relationship between cellular elements and humoral elements. Feedforward and feedback mechanisms exist to govern the rate and extent of inflammation.