With the inflammatory processes having done their job, the wound
enters the fibroplastic phase in which new tissue will be
formed. This period usually gets underway about 5 days after wounding
and lasts for up to 4 weeks.
The macrophage,
so critical to the inflammatory stage of wound healing, is also
essential to new tissue development through macrophage-derived
growth factors (MDGF).
To produce new tissue,
fibroblasts proliferate in the wound and migrate with the help of the
growth factors and a very important glycoprotein called fibronectin.
(Image expandable to 27K JPEG).
Once in the wound
fibroblasts begin to synthesize collagen fibers and connective tissue
ground substances. Vitamin C, iron, and copper are essential to the
synthesis of collagen, which constitutes 50% of the protein
found in scar tissue. Other fibrous protein in the wound include
elastin and reticulin (image expandable to 1.1 meg Quicktime
movie).
 Go back to Inflammation |
NEW TISSUE FORMATION continues... 
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