The invisible plumbing of the body: how tissue fluid and lymph work
In short: Blood doesn't just stay inside your veins. This video explains the mechanical pressures and biological filters that move fluids between your blood vessels and your cells.
The body relies on a delicate balance of pressures to exchange nutrients and waste. At the arterial end of capillaries, hydrostatic pressure forces plasma out into the surrounding tissues. At the venous end, a combination of oncotic pressure and osmosis works to reabsorb water back into the bloodstream.
Fluid that is not reabsorbed becomes tissue fluid. Excess tissue fluid then drains into the lymphatic system, where it travels through vessels equipped with valves. This system relies on muscle contractions to move fluid toward lymph nodes, which act as filters for pathogens. The video distinguishes these fluids from blood by comparing their concentrations of proteins, red blood cells, white blood cells, and fatty acids.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A-Level Biology - Tissue Fluid & Lymph - How They're Formed | Comparison with Blood (2027/28 exams)
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