What is a common response to injury or infection that includes redness, heat, swelling, and pain?

The correct answer is inflammation, which is a biological response to damaging stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. This response is characterized by four primary signs: redness, heat, swelling, and pain.

Redness and heat occur due to increased blood flow to the affected area, as blood vessels dilate to allow more immune cells to reach the site of injury or infection. Swelling results from the accumulation of fluid and immune cells that leak into the surrounding tissues. Pain is often caused by the release of chemicals that sensitize nerve endings in the area, signaling to the body that there is an issue requiring attention.

While each of the other options relates to various medical conditions or processes, they do not encapsulate the specific combination of symptoms described in the question. Suppuration refers to the process of pus formation, which may occur as a result of inflammation but does not include the full scope of symptoms. Necrosis indicates the death of cells or tissues due to injury or disease, and abnormal growth refers to the unusual proliferation of cells, which is separate from the body's reactive processes to injury or infection.