Describe the inflammatory response following a traumatic injury.

• A. The inflammation provokes a release of systemic catabolic hormones like epinephrine, glucagon and cortisol from the hypothalamus. These hormones are responsible for glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, proteolysis and free fatty acid release. The goal of the metabolic response is to maintain survival, homeostasis and promote recovery
• B. It reduces metabolic rate
• C. It causes autoimmune disease
• D. It is limited to the injured tissue

Answer: (A)

When tissue is injured, the body mounts an inflammatory and systemic stress response aimed at supporting healing. The stress response activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, leading to release of systemic catabolic hormones such as epinephrine, glucagon, and cortisol. These hormones drive glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis to keep blood glucose available, promote proteolysis to supply amino acids for tissue repair, and increase lipolysis to provide fatty acids for energy. The overall goal is to preserve survival and facilitate recovery, so the metabolic response is energy-mobilizing and systemic rather than limited to the injury site. Metabolic rate tends to rise, inflammation is not autoimmune, and the response is not confined solely to the injured tissue.