What drives wound contraction during the proliferation phase?

What drives wound contraction during the proliferation phase?

• A. Myofibroblasts attach to wound margins
• B. Keratinocyte migration
• C. Collagen cross-linking
• D. Increased inflammation

Answer: (A)

Wound contraction in the proliferation phase is driven by myofibroblasts. These specialized fibroblasts differentiate during this stage and attach to the wound margins, forming a contractile apparatus that pulls the edges toward the center of the wound. This mechanical pulling shortens the wound gap and is the primary process reducing wound size during proliferation. Keratinocyte migration is mainly about re-epithelialization—covering the wound surface with new epithelial cells—rather than pulling the wound edges together. Collagen cross-linking happens later, during the remodeling phase, to increase tensile strength of the scar rather than drive contraction. Inflammation is part of the early phases to clear debris and signal healing but does not drive the contractile step that shrinks the wound.

Wound contraction in the proliferation phase is driven by myofibroblasts. These specialized fibroblasts differentiate during this stage and attach to the wound margins, forming a contractile apparatus that pulls the edges toward the center of the wound. This mechanical pulling shortens the wound gap and is the primary process reducing wound size during proliferation.

Keratinocyte migration is mainly about re-epithelialization—covering the wound surface with new epithelial cells—rather than pulling the wound edges together. Collagen cross-linking happens later, during the remodeling phase, to increase tensile strength of the scar rather than drive contraction. Inflammation is part of the early phases to clear debris and signal healing but does not drive the contractile step that shrinks the wound.