Word parts
What it means
A stage of wound healing in which epithelial cells move in from the wound edges (and from hair follicles and sweat glands in shallow wounds) and spread across the surface. New epithelial tissue looks thin, shiny and pink or pearly. A wound kept moist and clean closes this way faster than one left to dry out and scab.
For the nurse
Protect new pink tissue at the wound edge when changing dressings, and chart how much of the wound is covered.
Related terms
wound healing
The body's process of repairing damaged skin and tissue.
granulation tissue
New, moist, red tissue that fills a healing wound from the bottom up.