Which term is used to describe the body's reaction to injury?

The term that describes the body's reaction to injury is inflammation. Inflammation is a complex biological response that occurs when the body encounters harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is part of the immune response and involves various signs, including redness, heat, swelling, and pain at the affected site. This response is crucial because it helps to isolate damaging agents, removes dead or damaged cells, and promotes healing by facilitating the repair process.

In contrast, infection refers specifically to the invasion and multiplication of pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi, in the body, which may or may not result in inflammation. Infarction relates to tissue death (necrosis) due to the lack of blood supply, often as a result of blockage in blood vessels, and does not directly describe the general response mechanism of the body to various kinds of injuries. Injury is a broader term that describes physical harm or damage but does not specifically denote the biological response that follows. Hence, inflammation is the most accurate term to describe the body's protective and healing response to injury.