Formation of tissue fluid

• tissue fluid is formed b blood plasma leaking from the capillaries, it surrounds the cells in the tissue and provides them with oxygen and nutrients
• some tissue is eventually reabsorbed, waste products from cell metabolism can be returned to the capillaries with the tissue fluid
• the lymphatic system absorbs a lot of excess tissue fluid
• tissue fluid formation:

  • at the arteriole end, hydrostatic pressure is greater in the capillaries forcing out fluid containing small molecules
  • exchange occurs between tissue fluid and cells, oxygen enters the cells, waste products leave
  • at the venous end hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure is lower so water moves by osmosis back into the capillaries carrying the waste products with it
  • any excess fluid is collected into the lymphatic system which returns to the circulatory system