The dolor sign of inflammation refers to:

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 31 July-2025

Explanation

The term 'dolor' is the Latin word for pain.
It is one of the five cardinal signs of inflammation, first documented by the Roman medical writer Celsus.
Pain during inflammation is caused by the release of chemical mediators like bradykinin and prostaglandins, as well as the physical pressure from swelling (edema) on nerve endings.

Option B: Heat is a different cardinal sign of inflammation. The Latin term for heat is 'calor'.
Option C: Swelling is another cardinal sign of inflammation. The Latin term for swelling is 'tumor'.
Option D: Redness is also a cardinal sign of inflammation. The Latin term for redness is 'rubor'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Cardinal signs of inflammation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Assessing for the five cardinal signs of inflammation is a fundamental nursing skill used to identify and monitor infections, injuries, and the body's response to trauma.
The presence of pain (dolor) is a critical indicator that prompts further assessment and intervention, including pain management and addressing the underlying cause.
What if? - If a postoperative patient shows redness, swelling, and heat at an incision site but reports no pain (dolor), the nurse must still suspect infection. The absence of pain could be due to nerve damage from the incision, effects of anesthesia/analgesia, or a patient-specific condition like diabetic neuropathy, and does not rule out a serious issue.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing knowledge of essential medical terminology.
Identify the key term in the question stem, which is 'dolor'.
Recall the Latin terms for the cardinal signs of inflammation that are fundamental to pathology and nursing.
Match the Latin term 'dolor' to its direct English translation, which is 'pain'.
Mentally check the other options to confirm they correspond to different Latin terms (Heat = Calor, Swelling = Tumor, Redness = Rubor), reinforcing the correct choice.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pathology-Textbook of PATHOLOGYHarsh Mohan Part 1 (1-214) p. 91-93

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 2 p. 220-222

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 1 p. 31-33

Practise the full BTSC Staff Nurse 31 July-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.