Question

How does inflammatory edema form?

Answer 1

Inflammation is a normal mechanism of body, where, the bodys cells has the ability to fight against some injuries, infections and certain kinds of micro organsims. Its a normal immune response.The major clinical manifestations of inflammation anywhere in the body includes swelling over the area, pain over the area, redeness of the part and the area will be warm to touch. This usually develops following a wound, injury etc in the body. The inflammatory process will allow thw body to regain its normal functions and helps in early healing.

Edema is a common finding associated with inflammation. Edema is the building up on fluid in the body parts. It can develop anywhere in the body and there may be various etiology. Most of the time inflammation is asscociated with edema. Such edema is known as inflammatory edema.Now see how the inflammatory edema is developed.

The major purpose of inflammation following an injury is,remove the damaged cells, cell products and improve the healing of that particular area by increasing the blood supply.Inorder to increase the blood flow to the affected part, the blood vessels will dilate over the area. This will allow more and more blood to flow towards the wound. This will cause the area to become red(it is called as hyperemic area).Once blood flow is improved to the inflamed area, more and more WBCs, Neutrophils, monocytes, protein etc will reach the area for phagocytosis and helps in wound healing.Accumulation of all these particles will cause the area to swell. Thus inflammatory edema is developed.