Define Inflammation. What are the cardinal features of acute inflammation?

Inflammation: Inflammation is a response of vascularized tissues to infections and damaged tissues that brings cells and molecules of host defense from the circulation to the sites where they are needed, in order to eliminate the offending agents.

Cardinal features of acute inflammation:(Hallmark of acute Inflammation).

1. Rubor (Redness)
2. Tumor (Swelling)
3. Calor (Heat)
4. Dolor (Pain)
5. Functio laesa (Loss of function)

Dystrophic calcification.

Pathologic calcification is the abnormal tissue deposition of calcium salts, together with smaller amounts of iron, magnesium, and other mineral salts.
There are two form of pathologic calcification.

• Dystrophic calcifation: When the deposition occur locally in dying tissues it is known as dystrophic calcification. Here - 

• Normal serum calcium level.
• Absence of derangement in calcium metabolism.

• Metastatic calcification: Deposition of calcium salts in otherwise normal tissues.
• Almost always results from hypercalcemia secondary to some disturbance in calcium metabolism.

Example of dystrophic calcification:

1. In areas of necrosis whether they are of coagulative, caseous or liquefactive type and in foci of enzymatic necrosis of fat.
2. Atheromas of advanced atherosclerosis.

Although dystrophic calcification is a tell-tale sign of previous cell injury it is often a cause of organ dysfunction such in case of calcific valvular disease and atherosclerosis.