What permanent tissue feature can result from abnormal wound healing?

Scar tissue is the correct answer because it represents a key outcome of the body’s healing process following an injury. When a wound occurs, the body initiates a complex healing response involving inflammation, tissue formation, and remodeling. During this process, granulation tissue forms initially, which is temporary and replaces damaged tissue. However, as healing progresses, this granulation tissue is gradually replaced by scar tissue, which is denser and lacks the same functional properties as the original tissue. Scar tissue functions to provide structural support but does not include the same cellular components as the original tissue, such as hair follicles or sweat glands, leading to differences in appearance and texture.

The other options do not represent permanent tissue changes. Granulation tissue is actually part of the healing process and is temporary. Skin integrity refers to the condition of the skin and can be affected during the healing process but is not a permanent alteration. Infection, while a possible complication during wound healing, does not directly result in a permanent tissue feature but rather affects the healing process itself. Thus, scar tissue distinctly embodies the permanent alteration in tissue resulting from abnormal or disrupted wound healing.