During which wound healing stage does proliferation occur?

• A. Proliferation
• B. Inflammation
• C. Maturation/remodeling
• D. Hemostasis

Answer: (A)

In wound healing, the stage called proliferation is when new tissue is formed to fill and cover the wound. After the initial clot forms and inflammation begins cleaning up debris and fighting infection, fibroblasts migrate into the wound and lay down collagen and other extracellular matrix. New blood vessels grow (angiogenesis), creating granulation tissue, and epithelial cells migrate across the wound bed to re-epithelialize the surface. This builds the foundation of the new tissue and starts restoring function and integrity. Inflammation focuses on cleanup, hemostasis stops bleeding, and maturation/remodeling comes later to reorganize collagen and increase tensile strength. So the proliferative phase is the period of active tissue formation and healing.