Healing and Regeneration

The purpose of healing is to limit damage and prevent death from an injury. Cells respond to injury by producing factors that halt bleeding, fight infection, and close the wound. Healing involves limited production of new cells—mostly cells connected with scar formation.

Regeneration is a much longer process that follows initial healing. Unlike healing, regeneration involves the production of vast numbers of new cells of many different types. To re-form a new limb, for example, the cells essentially need to reenact development.