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Wound contraction is primarily driven by myofibroblast activity. Myofibroblasts are specialized cells that develop from fibroblasts and play a critical role in the healing process by becoming contractile. They possess characteristics of both fibroblasts, which produce extracellular matrix components, and smooth muscle cells, allowing them to exert tension and pull the wound edges together.
In the wound healing process, once the inflammatory phase subsides, myofibroblasts gather at the wound site and begin to contract, thereby reducing the size of the wound. This contraction not only helps close the wound but also contributes to the overall repair of the skin and underlying tissues. The presence of myofibroblasts is crucial for effective wound healing, particularly in second-intention healing where the wound edges are not approximated by sutures.
The other processes, while important in different aspects of wound healing, do not specifically drive the contraction mechanism. For instance, fibroblast proliferation contributes to the granulation tissue formation, keratinocyte migration facilitates epidermal closure, and collagen synthesis strengthens the tissue and supports structural integrity. However, it is the myofibroblasts that actively contract and physically pull the edges of the wound together, making them the