Inflammation

 

Inflammation is the result of a defense reaction of the immune system in order to remove pathogens. First, the affected region of the body is supplied with more blood that carries more defense cells to the affected site. This manifests itself in redness and warming of the relevant area of the body. After this, a dilation of the walls of blood vessels occurs so that the alerted defense cells and liquid blood components can pass over into the tissue. These processes cause a swelling.

As a further primary defense action against the pathogens, the body raises its temperature in order to let all these procedures occur quickly and intensely, resulting in fever. The defense cells attempt to eliminate the pathogens by “devouring” them. During this process, a large part of the defense cells dies off, generating pus, an accumulation of dead defense cells.