Inflammatory Response
1. Bacteria enters the body through a wound in the skin. when pathogens enter the body they have chemical markers, called antigens, that the immune system recognises as foreign to the body.
2. mast cells underneath the skin produce histamine when they are damaged.
3. histamine causes capillaries under the skin to dilate, becoming leaky. the increased blood flow causes the symptom of redness.
4. chemicals that increase the temp are released, to inhibit the growth rate of pathogens, causing the symptom of heat.
5. the leaky capillaries cause a release of phagocytes (neutrophils and macrophages) and platelets.
6. the neutrophils and macrophages perform phagocytosis (engulf and kill bacteria). the platelets clot the blood to prevent the pathogen getting to other areas of the body, and prevent more pathogens entering by sealing the wound.