Biology help! Explain the underlying mechanisms responsible for the cardinal signs of acute

Question

Explain the underlying mechanisms responsible for the cardinal signs of acute inflammation: heat, pain, redness, and swelling

Answer 1

These are inflamatory responses so we sometimes have temperature, pain or swellings and other external symptoms like redness etc.

According to explanations sited in ANSWER.COM

http://www.answers.com/topic/inflammatio...

A local inflammatory response is usually accompanied by systemic changes: fever, malaise, an increase in circulating leukocytes (leukocytosis), and increases in specific circulating proteins called acute-phase reactants.

Such signals and symptoms are often helpful to the physician, first as clues to the presence of inflammation and later as an indication of its course.

The process of inflammation, both vascular and cellular, is orchestrated by an array of molecules produced locally. These mediators include histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, complement components, kinins, antibodies, and interleukins. Many anti-inflammatory drugs function by preventing the formation of those mediators or by blocking their actions on the target cells whose behavior is modified by the mediators.

VERY IMPORTANT

Inflammation is basically a protective mechanism. The leakage of water and protein into the injured area brings humoral factors, including antibodies, into the locale and may serve to dilute soluble toxic substances and wash them away. The adherence and migration of leukocytes brings them to the local site to deal with infectious agents.

IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

http://www.answers.com/topic/inflammatio...

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SCIENCE. jrank has wonderful explanation of the underlying mechanism.......

http://science.jrank.org/pages/3588/Infl...

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As a biologist I admire this link material best ( have the medical point of view)

http://www.zonediet.com/PYRAMID/SilentIn...