HTHSCI 2H03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Shortness Of Breath, Bradykinin, Platelet-Activating Factor
2 May 2016
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Document Summary
Inflammation is a biological defense mechanism triggered in response to injury. The purpose of inflammation is to contain the damage associated with the injury, and/or destroy the foreign agent and promote healing and recovery. Inflammation may be caused by: physical injury, chemical trauma, infection, cell death (necrosis), extreme heat (burns) The cardinal signs of inflammation are: pain, warmth, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Associated with physical injury, chemical damage, infection, antigens. Typically lasts 8 10 days, followed by repair and healing. May occur if the body is not able to contain or neutralize the agent causing initial inflammation. Is maladaptive: inflammation is triggered in response to a stimulus inflammation causes more tissue damage (and pain) more inflammation triggered. Associated with many chronic conditions (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, crohn"s disease, etc) Present in an inactive form in the plasma (the kinin cascade triggered by hageman factor from the clotting cascade) and also stored and released by mast cells.
