Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON) Practice Test

What is primarily synthesized by fibroblasts in the wound healing process?

1. Red blood cells

2. Collagen and proteins

3. Keratin and elastin

4. Fibrocytes and epithelial cells

The correct answer is: Collagen and proteins

Fibroblasts play a crucial role in the wound healing process by synthesizing collagen and various proteins. Collagen is the main structural protein that provides strength and support to the wound site, helping to form new tissue. This process is essential for the transition from the inflammatory phase to the proliferative phase of healing. Besides collagen, fibroblasts also produce other matrix proteins and growth factors that facilitate tissue repair and regeneration. While other options mention elements involved in the healing process, such as keratin and elastin, they are synthesized by different types of cells and play different roles in skin structure and function rather than being the primary products of fibroblasts during wound healing. Red blood cells are not synthesized by fibroblasts; they originate from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. Similarly, fibrocytes and epithelial cells have distinct functions and origins, with fibrocytes being a different stage of fibroblast maturation rather than a product of their activity. Thus, the primary synthesis of collagen and proteins by fibroblasts is essential for effective wound healing and tissue formation.