The Steps of Wound Healing

Before we dive into more complex topics, let's take a closer look at the typical process by which wounds heal. 

Skin is our largest organ, spanning about 20 square feet. This essential barrier protects our bodies from harmful elements, allows for temperature control, and facilitates sensations like heat and cold. 

There are three layers of skin as shown in the diagram below. 

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/picture-of-the-skin

The epidermis is made of tight junctions, providing a water-proof barrier, and contains the skin's pigment. The dermis contains hair follicles, sweat glands, and a bunch of connective tissue. The bottom layer, the hypodermis, has the heaviest concentration of blood vessels and fat.

The severity of the cut can be assessed by how deep it goes into these layers. 

Wound healing occurs in three stages: inflammation, proliferation, and maturation. 

Inflammation occurs when macrophages, also known as white blood cells, are rushed to the cut. The white blood cells eat away at any debris and pathogens that could enter the body. 

During proliferation, the macrophages create a thin extracellular matrix as a temporary barrier. They excrete fibroblast growth factor to produce fibroblasts. Fibroblasts make the components needed for the extracellular matrix. Specialized fibroblasts, called myofibroblasts, act like muscle cells to close the skin. 

Maturation deals with healing under the epidermis. During a process called angiogenesis, macrophages secrete chemicals that promote blood vessels to grow rapidly in the area that is being repaired. When the wound is completely healed, the number of blood vessels reduce to a normal amount.

I hope this post was informative and gave a good introduction to the specifics of my project. Feel free to ask any questions about this process or anything else in the comments!