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What cells and materials make up pus?
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inflammation
The main function of complement proteins is to aid in the destruction of pathogens by piercing their outer membranes (cell lysis) or by making them more attractive to phagocytic cells such as macrophages (a process known as opsonization). Some complement components also promote inflammation by stimulating cells to release histamine and by attracting phagocytic cells to the site of infection.
Pus is a thick, opaque, and typically yellowish-white fluid that forms at sites of inflammation during the body's response to infection. It is primarily composed of the following materials:12
- White blood cells: It consists largely of degenerating leukocytes, specifically dead and dying neutrophilic leukocytes that have migrated to the site of injury to ingest and destroy bacteria.13
- Tissue debris: Pus contains broken-down tissue remnants resulting from cellular destruction caused by bacterial toxins.12
- Microorganisms: It includes both living and dead infectious agents, such as bacteria.41
- Extracellular fluid: The mixture also incorporates accumulated extracellular fluid present at the site of the inflammatory response.2
Through the process of phagocytosis, leukocytes and macrophages work to clear these materials, eventually allowing the pus to resolve as the wound heals.423