Which of the following is NOT a major purpose of the inflammatory phase?

• A. Neovascularization initiation
• B. Formation of fibrin lattice that limits blood loss and provides wound strength
• C. Removal of damaged tissues by white blood cells
• D. Recruitment of fibroblasts to the area

Answer: (A)

During the inflammatory phase the body works to stop bleeding, contain infection, and clean up damaged tissue so repair can begin. The fibrin clot that forms at the wound edges is a key part of this phase: it limits blood loss and provides initial mechanical stability to the wound. White blood cells then flood the area to remove debris and pathogens, a primary cleanup function of inflammation.

Fibroblasts and new connective tissue formation come in later, during the proliferative phase, when the focus shifts to rebuilding the tissue with collagen and new extracellular matrix. Angiogenesis, or growth of new blood vessels, also ramps up during that proliferative stage rather than serving as a major objective of the inflammatory phase.

So initiating neovascularization is not a major purpose of the inflammatory phase.