The response of the organism, carried by the connective tissue and blood vessels, to an external or internal inflammatory stimulus with the purpose of eliminating or inactivating it and repairing the stimulus-induced tissue damage. Inflammatory stimuli can be caused by: e.g. living organisms, allergens, immune complexes, physical or chemical stimuli.
Cardinal symptoms of inflammation are rubor, calor, tumor, dolor, functio laesa. (S.a. Inflammation, Pathobiology).