Anatomy & Physiology

Summer 07

Assignment #2

Inflammation

Instructions
Please read each section/question carefully. Answer questions in complete sentences, and cite all outside materials using footnotes.  All work is to be typed, and may be submitted either by email or in class.  This assignment is due no later than midnight Thursday July 12th.  NO LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED.

Inflammation is a complex process that helps defend against pathogens and injury. Dermatitis is the correct term for an inflammation of the skin that involves primarily the papillary layer. Define the following:

1) contact dermatitis

2) eczema

3) urticaria

Trauma is an injury caused by pressure, impact, distortion or some other mechanical force. An open wound produces a break in the epithelium. Define the following categories of open wounds.

1) abrasion

2) incision

3) laceration

4) puncture

5) avulsion

Describe how each of the following mediators of inflammation are involved in the inflammatory reaction. Be sure to include which cell or tissue would release each.

1) prostaglandins

2) histamine

3) heparin

4) leukotrienes

5) serotonin

Burns, tissue damage caused by exposure to heat, radiation, electric shock or chemicals – can be classified according to the depth to which the disuse damage penetrates.

Q:1 Describe the tissue damage in first degree, second degree and third degree burns.

Severe burns, particularly those covering large portions of the body are life threatening.

Q2: Given your knowledge of skin function, what would you predict the immediate medical concerns to be when third degree burns are suspected?

Some times severe burns require skin grafts.

Q3: what is a skin graft? What are they made of?

Q4: what would limit the success of a skin graft?

Q5: What is a cellular wound dressing? How does it differ from a skin graft?