intention /inten″shən/ [L, intendere, to aim] , a kind of healing process. Healing by primary intention is the initial union of the edges of a wound, progressing to complete healing without granulation. Healing by secondary intention is wound closure in which the edges are separated, granulation tissue develops to fill the gap, and epithelium grows in over the granulations, producing a scar. Healing by tertiary intention is wound closure in which granulation tissue fills the gap between the edges of the wound, with epithelium growing over the granulation at a slower rate and producing a larger scar than the scar resulting from healing from secondary intention. Suppuration is also usually found. See also healing.
Types of wound healing. A, Primary intention. B, Secondary intention. C, Tertiary intention (Christensen, 2010)