What term describes the body’s response to injury or disease?

The term that describes the body's response to injury or disease is inflammation. Inflammation is a complex biological process that the body initiates in response to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. When an injury occurs or an infection is detected, the body activates its immune system, which leads to the increased blood flow to the affected area. This process results in the characteristic signs of inflammation, including redness, heat, swelling, and pain. Inflammation serves to localize and eliminate the cause of the injury or infection, clean up the damaged tissue, and start the healing process.

This process plays a crucial role in protecting the body and initiating recovery. Other terms, such as immunity, refer to the body's ability to resist specific infections and diseases rather than the immediate response to injury. Recovery denotes the process of regaining health after illness or injury, but it occurs after the inflammatory response has taken place. Therefore, inflammation specifically describes the body's initial response mechanism.