In the four stages of wound healing, which stage is described as Defensive?

• A. Inflammation (Defensive)
• B. Maturation
• C. Hemostasis
• D. Proliferation

Answer: (A)

Defensive activity is the inflammatory stage. After injury, the body mounts an immune defense to prevent infection and begin clearing debris. Blood vessels dilate and become more permeable to allow immune cells—starting with neutrophils and then macrophages—to reach the wound. These cells attack microbes, remove damaged tissue, and release signals that recruit and activate other cells for healing. This defense sets the stage for tissue formation in the proliferation phase and remodeling in maturation. The other stages serve different roles: stopping bleeding is hemostasis, building new tissue is proliferation, and strengthening the repair is maturation.