Exchange and the Lymphatic system Flashcards
Features of capillaries
- Specialised for exchange
- Lots of them: every tissue within 100 micro metre of one.
- Thin walled: presents a small diffusion barrier
- Small diameter: big surface area:volume ratio
Different structures of capillaries
Structure relates to function
- Continuous: no clefts or pores e.g. brain, clefts only e.g. muscle.
- Fenestrated: clefts and pores e.g. intestine.
- Discontinuous: clefts and massive pores e.g. liver.
Features of diffusion in capillaries
- Self-regulating
- Non-saturable
- Non-polar substances across membrane
- Polar substances through clefts/channels
Where would you need a protein carrier for capillaries?
Only in a few places e.g. the capillaries of the brain where the tight junctions of the blood-brain-barrier prevent diffusion of polar (hydrophilic) substances e.g. glucose
What mass exchange is going on in the background of diffusion between the capillaries?
Bulk flow
What is bulk flow?
Movement of water and solutes together due to a pressure gradient.
- This is the second mechanism of capillary exchange.
How do the different types of capillaries affect bulk flow?
- Continuous capillaries (tight structure) reduce bulk flow
- Fenestrated capillaries (perforated structure) increases bulk flow
- Discontinuous capillaries (great intercellular gaps) enable bulk flow.
How does bulk flow occur?
Hydrostatic pressure pushes fluid out through the leaky capillaries.
- That builds up an osmotic (oncotic) pressure which draws fluid back in.
What is the balance of hydrostatic and osmotic pressures in bulk flow known as?
Starling’s forces
What structures comprise the lymphatic system?
- Lymph nodes
- Lymph capillaries
- Pulmonary blood vessels
- Lymphatic vessel
- Valve
- Lymph node
- Systemic blood capillaries
- Lymphatic vessel
- Lymph capillaries
What occurs when the lymphatic system doesn’t work and the excess fluid (lymph) cannot drain into the lymphatic vessels?
This causes Oedema
What is oedema?
The accumulation of excess fluid
Main 3 reasons for oedema
- Obstruction of the lymph vessels
- Raised hydrostatic pressure
- Low osmotic pressure
What are examples of causes of oedema?
- Lymphatic obstruction e.g. due to filariasis, surgery.
- Raised CVP ( central venous pressure) e.g. due to ventricular failure.
- Hypoproteinemia e.g. due to nephrosis, liver failure, nutrition
- Increased capillary permeability: inflammation, e.g. rheumatism.
What law is used to calculate resistance in control of peripheral blood flow?
Poiseuille’s Law
What law is used to calculate flow in control of peripheral blood flow?
Darcy’s Law
How is blood redirected to regions of the body that need it - what closes and opens the taps?
Resistance vessels (arterioles) do it. - Since capillaries don't have any smooth muscle.