ABSTRACT
The architectural status of the surrounding tissue may be temporarily altered by fluid accumulation and movement of inflammatory cells through the tissue. If a virgorous inflammatory period ensues after injury, then the mesenchymal elements are directed to begin the process of repair by scar deposition. This involves removal of all the damaged components followed by an active movement of collagen-producing cells into the area. While many of the cellular and fibrogenic responses may be observed in systems other than dermis, it must be recognized that specialized and unique mechanisms have evolved in different tissues to handle the specific requirements of that tissue. The fibrogenic outcome is the integration of a number of determinants of the inflammatory response. An alternative to functional repair is the undesirable situation where the equilibrium between collagen synthesis and collagen remodeling is not re-established and the injury results in either overdeposition of collagen called fibrosis or inadequate integrity referred to as tissue destruction.
