Granulation Tissue
The new connective tissue and blood vessels that form during the proliferative phase of wound healing. Granulation tissue has a characteristic pink, bumpy appearance and is composed of new capillaries, fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix. Its formation is essential for wound closure.
Technical Context
Granulation tissue is the hallmark of the proliferative phase — a provisional tissue composed of: new capillaries (providing the pink/red colour and bleeding on gentle touching), fibroblasts (producing ECM), inflammatory cells (macrophages, lymphocytes), and a loose ECM (rich in fibronectin, hyaluronic acid, and type III collagen). The name derives from its granular appearance (each 'granule' is a capillary loop with surrounding stroma). Healthy granulation tissue is beefy red, moist, and bleeds easily — signs of adequate blood supply and cellular activity. Unhealthy granulation: pale (anaemic, poor blood supply), excessive/hypergranulation (rising above wound edges, preventing epithelialisation), or absent (chronic wound stalled in inflammation). Assessment of granulation tissue quality and quantity is a key clinical indicator of wound healing progress.