Fibroblasts are AWESOME!

We think Claire might be part Wolverine, she is healing SO fast.

It's been kind of fascinating to watch. I found some information online about the whole process at http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu and shared it with the kids and so now I'll share it with you.

Pay attention, there will be a test at the end.

The moment you cut or tear a blood vessel, the body's Superheros of Healing spring into action. Here's how healing works:

• First comes vasoconstriction — blood vessels leading to the wound tighten to reduce the flow of blood to the injured area.
• Platelets (triggered by enzymes leaked from the torn blood vessel) rush to the scene. These sticky blood cells clump to each other and then adhere to the sides of the torn blood vessel, making a plug.
• Clotting proteins in the blood join forces to form a fibrin net that holds the platelet plug in place over the tear, and in just a few seconds or minutes (depending on how bad the scrape is), BLEEDING STOPS, thanks to coagulation! The fibrin plug becomes a scab that will eventually fall off or be reabsorbed into the body once healing is complete.

Once bleeding has been controlled, the next step is stopping infection:

• The blood vessels that were constricted now dilate to bring white blood cells rushing to the scene. White blood cells engulf and destroy any germs that may have gotten into the body through the open wound.

When the enemies of blood loss and infection have been vanquished, the body turns its attention to healing and rebuilding:

• Fibroblasts (cells that are capable of forming skin and other tissue) gather at the site of injury and begin to produce collagen, which will eventually fill in the wound under the scab and create new capillaries to bring oxygen-rich blood to the recovering wound.
• Skin along the edges of the wound becomes thicker and then gradually migrates (or stretches) under the scab to the center of the wound, where it meets skin from the other side and forms a scar (about three weeks after the initial injury).
• Scar tissue will become stronger and fade gradually over the next several years as more collagen is added, but will only have about 80 percent of the strength of the original skin.

Not all wounds heal equally. Generally speaking, more serious wounds take longer to heal. Individual factors also influence how quickly your body is able to recover from a wound, including:

• Age — young'uns usually heal faster than older folks
• Nutrition — the body needs a good supply of vitamin C to make collagen
• Smoking — non-smokers, on average, heal more quickly than smokers
• Stress — large amounts of stress can delay the healing process
• Other infections or illnesses — diabetes, thyroid disease, high blood pressure, and poor circulation, for example, can decrease the body's ability to heal

We are hoping that Claire doesn't have any scars from this accident. It doesn't look like she will.

Saturday

Monday

Wednesday

Now, test your knowledge about the awesomeness that is your body

1. (true or false) Vasoconstriction is the widening of the blood vessels leading to the wound.

2. ___________ are triggered by enzymes leaked from the torn blood vessel.

3. (true or false) It takes a couple hours for the clotting proteins to form a fibrin net over the wound.

4. The blood vessels that were constricted now dilate to bring _____ ______ _____ rushing to the scene.

5. (true or false) Fibroblasts are cells that are capable of forming skin and other tissue.



answers
1. false
(Vasoconstriction is when blood vessels leading to the wound tighten to reduce the flow of blood to the injured area. )

2. Platelets

3. false
(In just a few seconds or minutes (depending on how bad the scrape is), BLEEDING STOPS, thanks to coagulation!)

4. white blood cells

5. true


How'd you do? Don't you think our bodies are AMAZING?