Acute inflammation
Acute inflammation is a rapid tissue response to injury or infection involving vascular changes, soluble mediators and recruitment of innate immune cells.
Open interactive lesson & self-check ↗Acute inflammation and leukocyte recruitment
Original conceptual SVG · scalableSimplified vascular inflammatory response; mediator families and tissue context are not exhaustively drawn.
Initiation
Resident cells recognize injury or pathogens and release mediators. Local arteriolar vasodilation and increased microvascular permeability can produce redness, warmth and swelling.
Cellular recruitment
Leukocytes undergo margination, rolling, adhesion and transmigration. Neutrophils commonly predominate early in many acute bacterial inflammatory responses.
Possible outcomes
The stimulus may be cleared with resolution and repair; persistent injury can lead to abscess formation, tissue damage or chronic inflammation.
Reference and next reading
Explore the original curriculum and publisher-hosted resources for full-depth reading; this note is an original schematic introduction, not an exhaustive chapter.