Lecture 14 - Microcirculation and Edema Flashcards
How are substances moved between the blood and interstitial fluid?
They cross capillary walls by:
- Diffusion
- Transcytosis
- Bulk flow
Bulk flow
A large number of molecules, ions, or particles that are dissolved in fluid move from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure through gaps between endothelial cells
What is bulk flow important for?
The regulation of the relative volumes of the blood and interstitial fluid
Transcytosis
Large, lipid-insoluble molecules cross the membrane in vesicles (ex. insulin uses this method).
Not efficient, only used for a few molecules that cannot cross any other way.
What factors affect a molecule’s ability to cross the lipid membrane?
- Lipid solubility (the more lipid-soluble a molecule is will cause it to be more permeable)
- The size and shape of the molecule (large, irregular shaped molecules will not pass as easily)
What provides the driving force for diffusion?
Concentration gradients
Facilitated diffusion
The movement of molecules from high to low concentrations with the use of transporter proteins (small water soluble molecules use this method)
Which direction will oxygen and nutrients diffuse?
From the blood into the cell
Which direction will carbon dioxide and metabolic waste diffuse?
From body cells to the blood
Is bulk flow passive or active?
Passive
Is diffusion passive or active?
Passive
Is facilitated diffusion passive or active?
Passive
Is transcytosis passive or active?
Active
Types of capillaries
- Continuous (no holes)
- Fenestrated (small holes)
- Sinusoid (large holes)
Which type of capillary is in the brain?
Continuous
Where are fenestrated capillaries found?
- Intestines
- Kidneys
Where are continuous capillaries found?
- Muscle
- Skin
- Fat
What is the most common type of capillary?
Continuous
Where are sinusoid capillaries found?
- Bone marrow
- Lymph nodes
- Spleen
What can pass through sinusoid capillaries?
Entire blood cells.
What can pass through continuous capillaries?
Small molecules like gases, water, ions, glucose, and some hormones.
What can pass through fenestrated capillaries?
Larger molecules.
Hydrostatic pressure
Pressure exerted by a fluid.
What are the factors that impact hydrostatic pressure?
- Density of the fluid
- Acceleration due to gravity
- Depth below the surface of the fluid
What is the hydrostatic pressure gradient?
The difference in pressure between two fluids (ex. capillary blood pressure and interstitial fluid pressure)
Osmotic pressure gradient
The gradient is generated due to the capillary wall being a semipermeable membrane
Osmotic pressure
Concentration difference in non-permeable solutes between two areas separated by a semi-permeable membrane.
The tendency of solvent molecules is to move from an area of lower solute concentration to a higher solute concentration.
What factors affect osmotic pressure?
- Concentration of solute particles
- Ideal gas constant
- Absolute temperature
Filtration
Bulk flow from capillaries to interstitial fluid.
Reabsorption
Bulk flow from the interstitial fluid to capillaries.
What is the driving force for bulk flow?
Pressure gradient
List the capillary types from least leaky to most leaky
- Continuous
- Fenestrated
- Sinusoid
Features of continuous capillaries
Endothelial cells are separated by intercellular clefts which limits movement, no holes within cells.
Features of fenestrated capillaries
Endothelial cells contain small holes (fenestrations)
Features of sinusoid capillaries
Incomplete basement membrane, large intercellular clefts and pores, allows the most movement.
Blood hydrostatic pressure (BHP)
Pressure of blood against the capillary walls - generated by pumping action of heart.
Which direction does the BHP force fluids?
Typically out of the capillary walls into the interstitial fluid.
How does BHP change within vessels?
It decreases over the capillary bed - it is higher on the arterial end and lower on the venule end.
Blood osmotic pressure (BOP)
Pressure created by nondiffusible plasma proteins too large to cross capillary walls.
Which direction does BOP force fluid?
Into the capillary
What is the gradient between the hydrostatic pressure in the capillary and interstitial fluid?
Movement of fluid is directed out of the capillary into the interstitial fluid.
Blood hydrostatic pressure is higher than interstitial hydrostatic pressure.
What is the gradient between the osmotic pressure in the capillary and interstitial fluid?
Movement of fluid is directed out of the interstitial fluid into the capillary.
Blood osmotic pressure is higher than interstitial osmotic pressure.
What drives filtration?
Blood hydrostatic pressure
What drives reabsorption?
Blood osmotic pressure
Direction and amount of fluid flow depends on
The difference between hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure.