Homework SourseYour new kitten scratches your roommate Her skin is reddened
Your new kitten scratches your roommate. Her skin is reddened and feels warm and sore to the touch; she thinks she has contracted some kind of fatal infection. In order to deflect her anger, you try telling her the activities of the innate defense system. Explain what is actually happening to her skin. How would her body react if the same kitten (who apparently hates your roommate) scratches her again a month later? Cite and references used to answer the question
Your new kitten scratches your roommate. Her skin is reddened and feels warm and sore to the touch; she thinks she has contracted some kind of fatal infection. In order to deflect her anger, you try telling her the activities of the innate defense system. Explain what is actually happening to her skin. How would her body react if the same kitten (who apparently hates your roommate) scratches her again a month later? Cite and references used to answer the question
Solution
The scratch has caused an inflammatory response. Although it is very likely that some pathogens entered her body through the broken skin, the response is actually generated by the injury to her tissue. The redness is a result of the increased dilation of blood vessels caused by the release of histamine. This also increases the temperature of the skin by bringing warm blood closer to the surface. Leakage of fluid form the vessels causes swelling in the area of the injury, which can cause pressure on the pain sensors in the skin. All of these serve to draw defensive cells and molecules to the injury site, thereby helping to defend her against infection.
