Final answer:
The correct answer is C) Itching. Itching is not one of the four cardinal signs of inflammation, which are swelling, redness, warmth, and pain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Correct Answer
The four classic signs and symptoms of inflammation include swelling, redness, warmth, and pain. The option that is not a cardinal sign of inflammation is C) Itching. The four cardinal signs described by Cornelius Celsus in the days of the Roman Empire are still recognized today. While a fifth sign, loss of function, may also be present, itching is typically considered a separate symptom that may accompany inflammatory responses but is not one of the main indicators of the inflammation process.
Inflammation is a localized response to injury or infection that causes redness, swelling, heat, and pain due to the movement of leukocytes and fluid through opened capillaries to the site of infection. Fever, while a systemic sign of inflammation, is not one of the localized cardinal signs. It is important to remember that inflammation is an essential part of the innate immune response aimed at establishing a physical barrier against the spread of infection and repairing tissue damage.