Fluid that accumulates in a wound; may contain serum, cellular debris, bacteria, and white blood cells.

• A. Contaminate
• B. Fibroblast
• C. Exudate
• D. Furuncle

Answer: (C)

Inflammation causes fluid to leak from capillaries into the wound, and that protein-rich fluid is called exudate. This fluid can contain serum, cellular debris from damaged cells, bacteria, and white blood cells as the body responds to injury or infection. Exudate is different from a thin, protein-poor transudate that comes from non-inflammatory causes. It’s also not a fibroblast, which is a cell involved in tissue repair, nor a furuncle, which is a localized boil or infection. So the described wound fluid is exudate.