Why our body swells from injury, and what exactly happens
So my son asked me the other day why, when we injure our fingers or knees, the joints swell, and what exactly is happening.
I looked a bit, and it seems like its a varied reason, but if anyone wants to take a stab at explaining why we swell at injured areas and what exactly is filling up those spots, blood?
it all started as he asked why swelling hurts.
Thanks in advance
In: Biology
Swelling is the result of increased blood flow to the area and it hurts cause that extra blood flow can compress nerves.
Your body has to heal itself and you using the injured joint makes the job harder so your body makes it extra sensitive and blocks off the joint to let the cells do their job.
Kinda like during road construction they cordon off an area larger than what they use to tell everyone “hey, I’m working here. Let me do my job without running me over”
Does that make sense?
Swelling is when increased fluid and white blood cells flow to the area, this, in turn, helps speed up repairs.
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