Classification of Wounds and the Physiology of Wound Healing

The human body is frequently exposed to various stress factors that can cause tissue damage and the occurrence of wounds. Sometimes, wounds can be a potential threat to the human organs and body and can also lead to life-threatening conditions. For effective treatment of wounds, one requires detailed knowledge of (i) wound characteristics and the reason for tissue damage, as well as (ii) the physiological process of wound healing. In this chapter, we first classify wounds according to their etiology, morphology, integrity of skin, stage of infection, etc., that is required for planned and optimized treatment of the wounds. We show that despite several available classification schemes, we still lack the proper approach for the identification of wounds, which is important in establishing effective healing therapies and has great clinical significance. Next, we discuss the cellular and physiological mechanisms of wound healing required to attain wound closure and restore the integrity and function of the damaged tissue. In this section, we explain the role of various cells and growth factors during repair, growth, and tissue regeneration processes during wound healing. Overall, this chapter outlines the details required for wound classification and wound healing, which in turn is vital for a planned and successful treatment of wounds.