Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Exam

During which stage of healing is granulation tissue formed?

1. The maturation phase

2. The epithelial closure phase

3. The inflammatory phase

4. The proliferative phase

The correct answer is: The proliferative phase

Granulation tissue is formed during the proliferative phase of healing. This phase occurs after the initial inflammatory response and begins typically 3 to 5 days after injury, lasting until approximately 2 to 3 weeks post-injury. In this phase, fibroblasts proliferate and synthesize collagen and extracellular matrix, leading to the formation of granulation tissue, which is highly vascular and serves as a foundation for new tissue. This tissue is critical in wound healing as it provides a scaffold for new cell migration and helps to close the wound by filling it with new tissue. The presence of granulation tissue indicates that the wound is progressing towards healing and that the body is actively working to repair the damage. Other phases of healing involve different processes: the inflammatory phase focuses on controlling bleeding and preventing infection, while the maturation phase involves the remodeling of the collagen fibers and further strengthening of the tissue. The epithelial closure phase primarily addresses the resurfacing of the wound but is not specifically linked to granulation tissue formation.