Mnemonics: Inflammation
Cardinal Signs of Inflammation
What needs to be memorized: The 5 classic signs of inflammation: Rubor (Redness), Calor (Heat), Tumor (Swelling), Dolor (Pain), Functio laesa (Loss of function)
Mnemonic: "Ram's Car Tyre Definitely Failed"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Ram's → Rubor (Redness)
- Car → Calor (Heat)
- Tyre → Tumor (Swelling)
- Definitely → Dolor (Pain)
- Failed → Functio laesa (Loss of function)
Steps of Leukocyte Extravasation (Migration)
What needs to be memorized: The sequential steps WBCs take to leave blood vessels: Margination, Rolling, Adhesion, Transmigration, Chemotaxis
Mnemonic: "My Rickshaw Always Takes Chai-breaks"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- My → Margination
- Rickshaw → Rolling
- Always → Adhesion
- Takes → Transmigration
- Chai-breaks → Chemotaxis
Cell-Derived Chemical Mediators of Inflammation
What needs to be memorized: Major cell-derived mediators: Histamine, Serotonin, Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, Platelet Activating Factor (PAF), Cytokines, Nitric Oxide
Mnemonic: "Hot Samosas Please! Later Paneer Curry Needed"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Hot → Histamine
- Samosas → Serotonin
- Please → Prostaglandins
- Later → Leukotrienes
- Paneer → PAF (Platelet Activating Factor)
- Curry → Cytokines
- Needed → Nitric Oxide
Cells in Chronic Inflammation
What needs to be memorized: Main cells present in chronic inflammation: Macrophages, Lymphocytes, Plasma cells, Eosinophils, Fibroblasts
Mnemonic: "Mummy's Lunch Paratha's Extra Filling"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Mummy's → Macrophages
- Lunch → Lymphocytes
- Paratha's → Plasma cells
- Extra → Eosinophils
- Filling → Fibroblasts
Causes of Caseating Granulomas
What needs to be memorized: Main causes of caseating granulomas: Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Fungal infections
Mnemonic: "Tiffin Left Friday"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Tiffin → Tuberculosis
- Left → Leprosy
- Friday → Fungal infections
Causes of Non-Caseating Granulomas
What needs to be memorized: Main causes: Sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease, Berylliosis, Cat scratch disease, Foreign body
Mnemonic: "Sachin's Cricket Bat Continuously Fabulous"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Sachin's → Sarcoidosis
- Cricket → Crohn's disease
- Bat → Berylliosis
- Continuously → Cat scratch disease
- Fabulous → Foreign body
Types of Inflammatory Exudates
What needs to be memorized: Four main types: Serous, Fibrinous, Purulent (Suppurative), Hemorrhagic
Mnemonic: "Students Frequently Postpone Homework"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Students → Serous
- Frequently → Fibrinous
- Postpone → Purulent
- Homework → Hemorrhagic
Outcomes of Acute Inflammation
What needs to be memorized: Four possible outcomes: Resolution, Repair/Fibrosis, Chronic inflammation, Abscess formation
Mnemonic: "Results Regularly Create Anxiety"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Results → Resolution
- Regularly → Repair/Fibrosis
- Create → Chronic inflammation
- Anxiety → Abscess formation
Sequential Vascular Changes in Acute Inflammation
What needs to be memorized: The sequence: Transient vasoconstriction → Vasodilation → Increased permeability → Stasis
Mnemonic: "Traffic Vehicles Initially Stop"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Traffic → Transient vasoconstriction
- Vehicles → Vasodilation
- Initially → Increased permeability
- Stop → Stasis
Positive Acute Phase Reactants
What needs to be memorized: Proteins that increase in inflammation: CRP, Serum Amyloid A (SAA), Fibrinogen, Ferritin, Hepcidin, Complement
Mnemonic: "Cricket Score Finally Favours Home Captain"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Cricket → CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
- Score → SAA (Serum Amyloid A)
- Finally → Fibrinogen
- Favours → Ferritin
- Home → Hepcidin
- Captain → Complement
Arachidonic Acid Metabolic Pathways
What needs to be memorized: COX pathway produces Prostaglandins & Thromboxane; LOX pathway produces Leukotrienes, Lipoxins & HETE
Mnemonic: "COX pathway = 'PT class' | LOX pathway = 'LLH group'"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- COX pathway (PT class):
- P → Prostaglandins
- T → Thromboxane
- LOX pathway (LLH group):
- L → Leukotrienes
- L → Lipoxins
- H → HETE
💡 Tip: "PT class" reminds you of Physical Training class - easy to remember!
Complement Activation Pathways
What needs to be memorized: Three pathways of complement activation: Classical, Alternative, Lectin (MBL pathway)
Mnemonic: "Chai Aur Lassi"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Chai → Classical pathway
- Aur → Alternative pathway
- Lassi → Lectin pathway (MBL)
Lysosomal Enzymes in Inflammation
What needs to be memorized: Important lysosomal enzymes: Acid proteases, Elastase, Collagenase, Cathepsins
Mnemonic: "Aunty's Elder Children Cry"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Aunty's → Acid proteases
- Elder → Elastase
- Children → Collagenase
- Cry → Cathepsins
Systemic Effects of Inflammation
What needs to be memorized: Constitutional symptoms: Fever, Leukocytosis, Increased heart rate, Anorexia, Somnolence
Mnemonic: "Flu Leaves Indians Always Sleepy"
🔗 The Breakdown:
- Flu → Fever
- Leaves → Leukocytosis
- Indians → Increased heart rate
- Always → Anorexia
- Sleepy → Somnolence
