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

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

• A. Fill in site of injury
• B. Build strength in tissue
• C. Cover site of injury
• D. Remove damaged tissue

Answer: (D)

The proliferative phase focuses on rebuilding tissue to fill and cover the wound. Fibroblasts deposit collagen and other extracellular matrix to fill the defect, creating granulation tissue that fills the wound bed. New blood vessels form in a process called angiogenesis to restore blood supply to this new tissue. Epithelial cells then migrate across the granulation tissue to re-cover the wound surface, a step known as re-epithelialization. Wound contraction also begins as myofibroblasts draw the edges closer to each other, contributing to restoring tissue integrity. Strength in the new tissue starts to develop as collagen is laid down, but the greatest remodeling and tensile strength occur later. Removing damaged tissue, however, is not a major goal of this phase. That cleanup work happens during the inflammatory phase, with immune cells clearing debris and dead cells.

The proliferative phase focuses on rebuilding tissue to fill and cover the wound. Fibroblasts deposit collagen and other extracellular matrix to fill the defect, creating granulation tissue that fills the wound bed. New blood vessels form in a process called angiogenesis to restore blood supply to this new tissue. Epithelial cells then migrate across the granulation tissue to re-cover the wound surface, a step known as re-epithelialization. Wound contraction also begins as myofibroblasts draw the edges closer to each other, contributing to restoring tissue integrity. Strength in the new tissue starts to develop as collagen is laid down, but the greatest remodeling and tensile strength occur later.

Removing damaged tissue, however, is not a major goal of this phase. That cleanup work happens during the inflammatory phase, with immune cells clearing debris and dead cells.