Anabolism begins during which burn metabolism phase?

• A. Ebb
• B. Flow
• C. Adaptive
• D. None

Answer: (C)

In burn injury, metabolism shifts through stages where the body moves from injury response toward tissue rebuilding. The anabolic processes, which drive tissue synthesis and wound repair, begin during the adaptive phase. This phase follows the initial ebb and extended hypermetabolic flow phases and marks a shift from net catabolism to net anabolism, supporting nitrogen retention, protein synthesis, and healing. The ebb phase is the immediate, low-metabolic state right after injury, and the flow phase is the prolonged hypermetabolic, catabolic period, so neither of those phases emphasizes rebuilding. Hence, the adaptive phase is when anabolism starts to predominate.