exchange and flow in the peripheral circulation Flashcards
features of capillaries
specialised for exchange
lots of them
thin walled - small diffusion barrier
small diameter (big SA:vol ratio)
what are the 3 types of capillaries
continuous
fenestrated
discontinuous
continuous capillaries
no clefts (between cells) or pores (within cells)
e.g. brain
for the blood brain barrier, protect the brain from blood K conc
clefts only
e.g. muscle
allows some exchange
fenestrated capillaries
clefts and pores
e.g. intestine
discontinuous capillaries
clefts and massive pores
e.g. liver
types of exchange
diffusion (majority of exchange)
carrier mediated exchange
bulk flow
where does exchange occur from capillary to cell
between capillary and ECF, between cell and ECF
how does oxygen diffuse
down its conc grad
it is lipophilic -no barriers to diffusion
features of diffusion
self regulating - if the cell starts using more oxygen there is a larger conc grad so more is supplied
non-saturable - there is no point where oxygen transport is at its max
non-polar substances across membrane
polar substances through clefts/channels
describe an example of carrier mediated transport
glucose transport
in the brain - glucose is trapped within the capillaries but is highly needed by the brain so a protein transporter is required to move the glucose across
features of bulk flow
fluid transport
driven by hydrostatic and osmotic (oncotic) pressure
what is hydrostatic pressure
loss of water as you move down the capillary from arteriole to venule through clefts
big solutes remain in the capillary
what is osmotic pressure
drawing water back in to the more concentrated plasma due to retention of large solutes in the capillary
what is the pressure in the arteriole end
~40mmHg
what is the pressure in the venule end
~20mmHg
what are starlings forces
NOT THE SAME AS STARLING’S LAW (preload on the heart)
capillary hydrostatic pressure vs ISF hydrostatic pressure (determines movement of water out)
plasma osmotic pressure vs ISF osmotic pressure (determines movement of water in)
net filtration pressure
varies between capillary beds
what amount of fluid is lost and regained in the capillary network each day
~20L lost and ~17L regained
what happens to the remaining fluid that isn’t regained into the capillary network
drains into the lymph capillaries
describe the structure of lymph capillaries
same as blood capillaries except they are blind ended
valves prevent backflow of fluid
fluid drains into the low pressure heart of the systemic circulation (vena cava)
define oedema
accumulation of XS fluid