Final answer:
Areolar tissue swells and retains fluid during inflammation, participating in the body's inflammatory response by contributing to vasodilation and fluid leakage.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a body region is inflamed, areolar tissue plays a role in the body's inflammatory response. The correct answer to what areolar tissue does when a body region is inflamed is C) Swells and retains fluid. Inflammation is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain in the affected area. Areolar tissue contains fibroblasts, macrophages, collagen fibers, and elastin fibers. These components become involved in inflammation as they contribute to the process of vasodilation and the leakage of fluids into the surrounding tissue, which results in swelling.