Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test

Suppuration, or the formation of pus, is a process that occurs in response to infection or inflammation. It involves several key factors that contribute to the characteristic features of pus.

Necrosis refers to the death of tissue, which can create an environment conducive to infection and inflammation, facilitating suppuration. The collection of neutrophils is particularly crucial, as these white blood cells are the body's primary responders to infections and are responsible for engulfing pathogens and dead tissue, leading to the formation of pus. Additionally, the accumulation of tissue fluid, often referred to as exudate, plays a role in the overall response, as it contributes to the swelling and the formation of fluids that may contain various components, including those that form pus.

The presence of lymphocytes, while important in the immune response, particularly in chronic inflammation and in combating viral infections, is not a direct factor in the process of pus formation. Instead, lymphocytes are more associated with the adaptive immune response and the regulation of longer-term immune activity rather than the acute phase of suppuration that primarily involves neutrophils. Thus, their role is secondary in the specific context of suppuration, making this the correct statement regarding which factor is not directly involved in the formation of pus.