What is at the bottom of the tissue healing pyramid?

• A. Late remodeling
• B. Inflammation
• C. Early proliferation
• D. Early remodeling

Answer: (B)

Inflammation sits at the bottom because healing starts with an inflammatory response right after injury. This initial phase controls bleeding, cleans up dead cells and debris, and releases signaling molecules that recruit cells needed for repair. These signals set the stage for the next steps—proliferation, where new tissue forms, and remodeling, where that tissue matures and strengthens. If inflammation doesn’t occur properly, healing is delayed or impaired. The other stages—early proliferation and remodeling (and late remodeling)—occur after inflammation, so they don’t sit at the base of the pyramid.