Which phase of tissue healing follows inflammation?

• A. Hemostasis
• B. Regeneration
• C. Proliferation (repair)
• D. Remodeling

Answer: (C)

The main idea is understanding the sequence of tissue healing after injury. After the initial inflammatory response, the body moves into the repair phase, known as proliferation. During this phase, the wound is rebuilt: fibroblasts lay down collagen and other extracellular matrix, new blood vessels form to restore circulation (angiogenesis), and granulation tissue develops. Epithelial cells migrate across the wound to reestablish the skin barrier, and the wound may contract to close the gap. This sets the stage for the remodeling phase, where the tissue is reorganized and strengthened over time.

So the phase that follows inflammation is proliferation (repair) because it focuses on rebuilding and filling the defect, rather than stopping bleeding or simply reorganizing tissue later on. Hemostasis occurs immediately to stop bleeding, and remodeling comes even after the proliferative repair, refining tissue strength. Regeneration can occur in some tissues but is not the primary ongoing phase immediately after inflammation in this context.