Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

During wound healing, which of the following phases is characterized by granulation tissue formation?

1. Hemostasis phase

2. Inflammatory phase

3. Proliferative phase

4. Maturation phase

The correct answer is: Proliferative phase

The proliferative phase of wound healing is characterized by the formation of granulation tissue. During this phase, the body works to fill and cover the wound. Granulation tissue is composed of new connective tissue and tiny blood vessels that form on the surface of a wound during the healing process. This tissue provides a temporary matrix for cellular migration and plays a critical role in facilitating further healing and tissue repair. In addition to granulation tissue formation, this phase also involves epithelialization, where new skin cells migrate across the granulation tissue to cover the wound surface, and collagen deposition, which strengthens the new tissue. The proliferative phase typically follows the inflammatory phase, where the body clears out debris and pathogens, setting the stage for the healing process to continue with granulation and re-epithelialization. The maturation phase comes after the proliferative phase and focuses on remodeling and strengthening of the tissue, leading to scar formation.