capillaries: solute exchange Flashcards
Describe the structure of the cell membrane
Lipid bilayer
Phosphate head is polar (hydrophilic)
Fatty acid tail is non-polar (hydrophobic)
Name 4 functions of the cell membrane
- Provides support and protection
- Cell-to-cell recognition (eg- immune system)
- Controls what enters and exits the cells (eg- ion movement in nerves)
- Regulates cell function (eg- insulin-mediated glucose uptake)
What are the 2 types of transport in the body
- Passive transport
- The movement of molecules down a gradient
- Does not require energy
- Can be simple (O2 + CO2) or facilitated (ions + glucose)
2. Active transport - The movement of molecules against a gradient
- Requires energy (uses ATP)
What are the 4 passive transport processes?
- Diffusion
- Has a concentration gradient
- For example uptake of oxygen from the lungs—> blood
2. Convection - Has a pressure gradient
- For example blood flow from the heart —> blood vessels
3. Osmosis - Has an osmotic pressure gradient
- For example uptake of water by cells
4. Electrochemical flux - Has an electrical and concentration gradient
For example ion flow through the action potential in a nerve
Where does solute and fluid exchange take place?
It takes place in the capillaries
These vessels connect arterioles to venules; they’re an extension of the inner linings of the arterioles
They are one cell thick and are semi permeable
Name some properties of capillaries
· Smallest diameter out of the blood vessels
· One cell thick
· Semi permeable
Where are capillaries found?
Found near every cell in the body but higher density in highly active tissue (muscle, liver, heart, kidney, brain etc)
How does solute exchange occur in capillaries?
Solute exchange via passive diffusion for example oxygen, glucose, amino acids, hormones and drugs
Fluid exchange along pressure gradients
What affects the rate of solute transport?
- Properties of passive diffusion
Rate
Distance
Concentration - Properties of solutes and membrane
Ficks law - Properties of capillaries affect the movement
List the properties of passive diffusion
• DOES NOT require energy (ATP)
• Movement from a high —> low concentration gradient
• Efficiently transports lipid-soluble solutes over very short distances
Only short distances because the time taken (t) for a molecule to move a net distance (x) in one direction increases with the distance squared ( t= x^2/2D)
List some properties of solutes and membranes that affect transport
1. Solutes • Concentration gradient • Size of solute • Lipid solubility of the solute (lipophilic or lipophobic) 2. Membranes • Membrane thickness and composition • Aqueous pores in the membrane • Carrier-mediated transport Active transport mechanisms
What is Fick’s law and what does it state?
It describes diffusion (for example: the movement of a molecule down the concentration gradient)
It states that the solute movement can be determined by four factors:
1. The diffusion coefficient of the solute (the ease of movement through the solvent)
2. The area
3. The concentration gradient
4. The distance
List the three types of capillaries and describe them
- Continuous capillaries
• Moderate permeability with tight gaps between neighbouring cells
• Have a constant basement membrane
• Found in the blood-brain barrier, muscle, skin, fat and connective tissue- Fenestrated capillaries
• High water permeability with fenestration structures throughout the cells (hence a moderate disruption of the membrane)
• Found in high water turnover tissues, such as salivary glands, kidneys, synovial joints, anterior eye, choroid plexus (spinal fluid), and gut mucosa - Discontinuous capillaries
• Very large fenestration structures throughout, and a disrupted basement membrane
Found where the movement of RBC’s is required such as the liver, spleen and bone marrow
- Fenestrated capillaries
List some properties of capillaries that affect transport
- Intracellular cleft
- 10-20 nm wide
- Allows solutes and fluids to move through between the cells
2. Caveolae and vesicles - Large pore system
- For the movement of proteins across the membrane
3. Glycocalyx - A negatively charged material that covers the endothelium, blocking solute permeation and access to transport mechanisms
- Its highly regulated
Glycocalyx is very dynamic and can be broken down and remade as required
What is permeability and what is its relation with diffusion?
Permeability is the rate of solute transfer by diffusion across a unit area of membrane per unit concentration difference (how freely a solute crosses a membrane)
A porous membrane interferes with the diffusion of lipid insoluble solutes in multiple ways:
1. A reduction in the area for diffusion
2. An increased path length through the membrane
3. Restricted diffusion in the pore produces hydrostatic issues
What is the dominant route of transport; diffusion or filtration?
diffusion
