Which cellular event occurs during the inflammatory phase?

Prepare for the Tissue Injury, Healing, and Pain Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Ensure you're ready for the exam!

During the inflammatory phase, the key cellular activity is the arrival and infiltration of leukocytes at the injury site to remove necrotic tissue and control infection. Neutrophils rush in first to clear debris, followed by macrophages that phagocytose remaining dead cells and pathogens and release signals that coordinate subsequent healing. This leukocyte infiltration is the defining cellular event of inflammation and sets the stage for proper tissue cleanup and defense.

Platelet aggregation forming a temporary clot happens primarily in the immediate hemostatic response to stop bleeding, which occurs before inflammation. The complement cascade amplifies inflammation by promoting leukocyte recruitment and opsonization, but it’s a biochemical cascade rather than the actual cellular infiltration. Chondrocyte maturation occurs later, during repair and remodeling, not in the inflammatory phase.