Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of inflammation?

The characteristic that is not typically associated with inflammation is tenderness. While inflammation can certainly cause tenderness as a result of the body's response to injury or infection, tenderness itself is more of a symptom that a patient perceives rather than a direct physiological characteristic of the inflammatory process.

Inflammation is characterized by a range of classic signs including redness, swelling, and pain, often summarized by the Latin phrase "rubor, tumor, dolor, et calor" (redness, swelling, pain, and heat). Redness occurs due to increased blood flow to the affected area as part of the immune response, swelling arises from the accumulation of fluid and immune cells, and pain results from chemicals released by damaged tissues that stimulate nerve endings. Together, these characteristics facilitate healing and protect the body from further harm, making the understanding of inflammation and its signs essential in fields such as massage therapy.