During wound healing, which phase involves the formation of granulation tissue?

• A. Inflammatory
• B. Hemostasis
• C. Maturation
• D. Proliferative

Answer: (D)

Granulation tissue formation marks the proliferative phase of wound healing. In this phase, fibroblasts lay down collagen and extracellular matrix, and new capillaries grow to restore blood supply—together creating the pink, soft granulation tissue that fills the wound bed. This tissue provides the scaffold for epithelial cells to migrate over the wound and for strong tissue to form. The inflammatory phase focuses on stopping bleeding and fighting infection, and the maturation (remodeling) phase later strengthens and reorganizes collagen to form scar tissue. Therefore, the formation of granulation tissue occurs during the proliferative phase.