When tissues are injured, several cellular responses are triggered to mitigate damage and initiate repair. These responses include:
- Inflammation: The initial response to injury, characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain. In histology, this involves the recruitment of white blood cells to the injury site. - Cell Proliferation: Cells, particularly stem cells, begin to divide and replace damaged cells. - Regeneration: Some tissues can regenerate fully, restoring their original structure and function. - Fibrosis: In cases where regeneration is not possible, the tissue may undergo fibrosis, leading to the formation of scar tissue.
