Final answer:
Surgical incision healing involves an increase in connective tissue, specifically areolar tissue produced by fibroblasts, to replace lost material and support angiogenesis in the formation of granulation tissue, which may lead to scar formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The healing of a surgical incision involves the repair of cutaneous tissue and an increase in connective tissue. During the tissue repair phase, fibroblasts migrate into the wound area to replace the collagen and extracellular material lost during injury. These fibroblasts lay down collagen fibers in a basket-weave pattern, forming areolar tissue. As healing progresses, scar formation occurs due to ongoing collagen deposition which sometimes leads to hypertrophic scars or keloids if overproduced. Areolar tissue is a loose connective tissue that fills the spaces between the healing structures and is essential for providing nutrients and supporting new blood vessels (angiogenesis) in the formation of granulation tissue.