When a wound occurs, the body initiates a complex series of events at the cellular level to repair the damaged tissue. This process can be divided into several stages:
1. Hemostasis: Immediately after injury, blood vessels constrict to reduce blood loss, and platelets aggregate to form a clot. This clot serves as a temporary barrier to infection and provides a scaffold for incoming cells.
2. Inflammation: Inflammation is the body's immediate response to tissue injury, characterized by the influx of inflammatory cells like neutrophils and macrophages. These cells remove debris and pathogens, releasing cytokines and growth factors that are crucial for the next stages of healing.
3. Proliferation: During this phase, fibroblasts proliferate and produce collagen and other extracellular matrix components. This phase also involves angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, to supply the new tissue with nutrients and oxygen.
4. Remodeling: The final stage involves the maturation and reorganization of collagen fibers. This phase can last for months to years and ultimately determines the strength and appearance of the healed tissue.
