Final answer:
Pressure ulcers are wounds caused by prolonged pressure on the skin, leading to reduced blood flow and tissue death, commonly in immobile or elderly patients. Effective management includes periodic repositioning to prevent the occurrence of ulcers. After a skin injury, the body's healing response includes blood clotting and tissue repair processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores or decubitus ulcers, are wounds that are formed when the pressure on soft tissue is greater than the capillary closure pressure, leading to hypoxia, anoxia, and cell death. They are a result of constant, long-term, unrelieved pressure on the skin, particularly over bony areas. This pressure reduces blood flow, causing necrosis (tissue death). Such wounds are most commonly seen in elderly patients or those who are immobile due to various health conditions. Preventative measures, such as turning patients every few hours, are implemented in hospitals and long-term care facilities to reduce the incidence of bedsores.
After an initial skin injury, such as a severed blood vessel, the body begins a wound-healing response. The first step is the formation of a blood clot to stop bleeding, followed by several processes including the removal of toxins, clot retraction, wound contraction, and ultimately tissue regeneration or scar formation.