Why do we swell when we have get an injury, skin infection or a bite?

I'm presuming it's an immune response from the body - correct me if I'm wrong - but what's the point of the the swelling?

Why do we swell when we have get an injury, skin infection or a bite?
when ever a foreign substance enters the body, the response is to 'send' an increased blood supply to the affected area, this carries with it the bodies natural defences, white blood cells, antihistamines and the natural 'bug' fighting chemicals that are part of the bodies immune system. the swelling is a protective response in that if you have pain it automatically reminds you that you ahve an injury and to look after the affected part.





Problems arise when the bodies natural defences are over whelmed by infection.
Reply:You are right it is the bodies way of protecting the injured area. It surrounds it with fluid.
Reply:The swelling is because the body is rushing fluid to that place to help with reparing the wound. It is usually a protective liquid or lump that protects the injury and stops it from getting bumped more.


It's all the bodies doing.
Reply:it stops you moving the injured part if you break you leg it will swell around the break not so noticeable after a sting but same thing
Reply:Swelling is an accumulation of fluid known as edema. It is a characteristic of inflammation, which is, as you say, the body's response to injury.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflammatio...
Reply:from what i have been told in the past you are right about it being an immune response from the body it is to protect the wound from getting any further infection so that the body can fight of an infection it may already of received from when the wound was first made. Hope this helps a little