Abstract： As the most common blunt thoracic injury, lung contusion may develop into acute lung injury, adult respiratory distress syndrome or ventilation associated pneumonia, which can cause a high mortality. However, the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of lung contusion is not well understood yet. Stress is laid by many researchers on inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of lung contusion. We review the potential role of inflammatory response in the pathogenesis and pathophysiological changes of lung contusion. Emphasis is put on studies of inflammatory cells, mediators, receptors, surfactant dysfunction, and the potential role of epithelial cell or neutrophil apoptosis. The animal models are essential to the study of lung contusion and the studies examining secondary injuries exacerbating lung contusion are also noted.