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What roles do fibroblasts and macrophages play during the migratory phase of wound healing?
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wound
Injuries that break skin can be painfully memorable.
During the migratory phase of wound healing, both fibroblasts and macrophages infiltrate the site of injury to initiate the reconstruction of damaged tissue.1
Their specific roles during this phase include:
- Fibroblasts: These cells migrate to the damaged area to begin the process of tissue repair. They serve as the foundation for rebuilding the structural integrity of the site, eventually producing the collagen necessary to increase wound strength in subsequent phases.231
- Macrophages: As mobile scavenger cells, macrophages infiltrate the wound to perform phagocytosis. They engulf and break down cellular debris, bacteria, and other foreign materials, effectively clearing the site to facilitate the healing process.145
Together, these cells transition the wound from the initial inflammatory response toward the proliferative phase, where new tissue and blood vessels are actively formed.1