What are the typical signs of inflammation?

The typical signs of inflammation are heat, redness, swelling, and pain. These signs are part of the body's acute inflammatory response to injury or infection.

Heat occurs because of increased blood flow to the affected area, which is the result of vasodilation. This process allows more immune cells and nutrients to reach the area needing repair. Redness is also a consequence of this increased blood flow. Swelling is caused by the accumulation of fluid and white blood cells that leak out of the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues, which is a response to the inflammatory mediators released during the injury response. Pain results from the stimulation of nerve endings by inflammatory mediators and the pressure from swelling on surrounding tissues.

Other options include elements like cold or pale, which are associated with poor blood flow or vasoconstriction and do not accurately represent the inflammatory process. Additionally, including itching or loss of function as the primary signs can be misleading, as these symptoms may arise in some inflammatory conditions but are not universally recognized as primary indicators of inflammation in the way that heat, redness, swelling, and pain are.