Localized protective response elicited by injury or destruction of tissues. Symptoms: pain, heat, swelling and redness, loss of function, involves a complex series of events, including dilatation of arterioles, capillaries, and venules, with increased permeability and blood flow; exudation of fluids, including plasma proteins; and leukocytic migration into the inflammatory focus. Condition in which the body is trying to respond to localized injury or destruction of tissues