Tissue Integrity NSG 100 Exam 3 Practice

Secondary intention healing occurs when there is tissue loss and the wound is not closed together. In this process, the wound bed fills with granulation tissue—new connective tissue and small blood vessels produced by fibroblasts and capillaries—providing a foundation for repair. As healing proceeds, the wound contracts and a scar forms from collagen deposition, resulting in an extendable, fibrous tissue rather than a perfectly restored original tissue.

This contrasts with primary intention healing, where edges are brought together and tissue loss is minimal, leading to little scarring, and with tertiary intention healing, where the wound is kept open to drain or monitor infection before being closed later. The description of tissue loss plus filling with granulation tissue and scar is characteristic of secondary intention healing.