Question

How does a skin graft derive its nutrition on day 3?

• A. Plasma imbibition
• B. Inosculation
• C. Neovascularization
• D. None

Hint:

Inosculation is critical in the early stages after skin grafting, as it establishes blood supply between the graft and the recipient tissue.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Frame the question around the timeline of graft take.
A free skin graft has no blood supply of its own at the moment it is laid down, so it is nourished in three sequential phases. The question asks specifically what is supplying it on day 3.

Step 2: Walk through the three phases.
• Phase 1 - Plasma imbibition (roughly days 1-2): the graft passively soaks up plasma and nutrients from the recipient wound bed, keeping it hydrated and alive while no vessels are yet connected.
• Phase 2 - Inosculation (around day 3): cut capillary ends in the graft line up and physically anastomose with the host's capillaries at the wound bed, restoring an actual circulatory connection.
• Phase 3 - Neovascularisation/revascularisation (later): new vessels grow into the graft to establish a durable, mature blood supply.

Step 3: Map day 3 to the right phase.
By the third day, imbibition is handing over to the linking-up of capillaries, so the graft is now drawing nutrition through the newly connected vessels - that is inosculation. Plasma imbibition is too early, and neovascularisation comes too late, so neither fits day 3.

Step 4: Conclusion.
On day 3 the graft survives via direct capillary linkage between graft and host.

Final answer: Option 2 - Inosculation.