Movement of cellular elements
The most important cells in acute inflammation are leukocytes. These need to pass from the blood to the site of activity across the endothelium; they do so in overlapping stages:
- margination
- adhesion
- passage across vessel wall
- chemotaxis
The type of leukocyte in transit depends on the stage of inflammation and the stimulus:
- usually, polymorphonuclear neutrophils predominate in the first 24 hours disappearing by 36 hours
- monocytes become more frequent after 24 hours and may stay at the site of inflammation for long periods
- viral infections may promote lymphocyte transit initially
- some hypersensitivity reactions promote initial movement of eosinophilic cells
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