Chapter 20, Problem 1ILQ

Watch this video (http://openstaxcollege.org/l/capillaryfunct) to explore capillaries and how they function in the body. Capillaries are never more than 100 micrometers away. What is the main component of interstitial fluid?

Summary Introduction

To review:

The main component of interstitial fluid.

Introduction:

Interstitial fluid also called the extracellular fluid surrounds all body tissues. It mainly contains water as solvent with suspended particles, solutes and white blood cells in it.

Explanation of Solution

All tissues of our body seem to be bathing in a liquid called the extracellular fluid or the interstitial fluid. This fluid is more like the lymph flowing through the lacteals. The interstitial fluid has water as solvent which is the makes up the most of its content.

This aqueous solution contains sugars, amino acids, electrolytes along with dissolved oxygen and other gases. There are white blood cells freely floating in it. It differs from plasma in the protein composition as the plasma is rich in protein.

The exact composition if interstitial fluid however depends on the location of the body considered. This fluid contains substances like hormones, neurotransmitters or proteins according to the area where they are produced and transported.

Even metabolic wastes products like carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, urea or ammonia are found in it. Just that its dynamic composition is dependent on the tissue it is found associated with. This is so because the interstitial fluid functions to allow exchange of nutrients and wastes between blood in capillaries and tissues.

Conclusion

The interstitial fluid is mainly composed of aqueous solvent with dissolved electrolytes, gases and suspended white blood cells. It functions to provide medium of exchange of substances between blood and the tissue it surrounds.