In tissue healing, how long does the inflammatory phase typically last?

• A. Up to 7 days
• B. 14-21 days
• C. 1-2 weeks
• D. Up to 6 months

Answer: (A)

The inflammatory phase is the first response to tissue injury, focused on stopping bleeding, preventing infection, and cleaning out damaged debris. In most acute wounds, this initial cleanup and inflammatory activity lasts about a week, roughly up to seven days. This timeframe allows neutrophils and then macrophages to work through the injury site and set the stage for tissue repair to begin in the next phase.

Durations like 14–21 days or up to 1–2 weeks would extend into the later phases of healing, where new tissue formation and remodeling take over. Up to 6 months describes the remodeling phase, not the inflammatory response. So the best answer is up to seven days.