A non-specific defense reaction to tissue damage caused by injury or infection is known as

a. cell-mediated immunity.

b. the inflammatory response.

c. passive immunity.

d. active immunity.

The answer is B.

An inflammatory response is a nonspecific immune response. It is defined as a reaction of the body to injury or destruction of tissues and takes place in the following steps:

1. Tissue damage caused by injury or bacterial infection is detected.

2. Chemotactic factors and vasodilators are released.

3. increased capillary permeability and increased blood flow to the area occurs.

4. Migration of phagocytes to the site of infection rapidly occurs.

5. Special serum proteins and phagocytes attack and destroy bacteria.

6. Inflammation subsides once the invading pathogen is destroyed.