Research on the formation of novel enzymatic oxygenation products derived from the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has revealed the endogenous formation of several novel autacoids that have been termed resolvins and protectins. The elucidation of the chemical structures of resolvins and protectins, and the assessment of their endogenous functions, are providing a new understanding of the role of endogenous omega-3 fatty acid-derived lipid mediators in tissue protection, counteraction of inflammation and the activation of inflammation resolution. This review emphasizes the structural aspects of resolvin biosynthesis and metabolic inactivation, which are of central importance for understanding the current and future development of therapeutically relevant, stable analogs that may activate inflammation resolution.