Which sequence lists the four phases of wound healing in order?

• A. Hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferation, and maturation.
• B. Hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferation, and maturation.
• C. Inflammation, hemostasis, maturation, and remodeling.
• D. Proliferation, maturation, inflammation, and hemostasis.

Answer: (B)

Wound healing progresses through four phases in a time-ordered sequence: first stopping the bleed, then cleaning up debris and fighting infection, building new tissue, and finally remodeling that tissue to increase strength. Immediately after injury, blood vessels constrict and platelets form a clot—this is hemostasis. Once bleeding is controlled, inflammatory processes kick in with neutrophils and macrophages clearing debris and warding off infection. After the wound is clean, proliferation begins, creating granulation tissue, new blood vessels, collagen deposition, and re-epithelialization to fill the gap. Finally, maturation or remodeling reorganizes and strengthens the new tissue, with collagen being realigned and cross-linked, though it may never reach the strength of unwounded tissue.

That sequence—hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferation, and maturation—follows the natural progression of healing, making it the correct order.