Week 3 Flashcards
What is the typical diameter of capillaries?
5–10 µm
What type of cells make up the wall of capillaries?
Single layer of thin, flattened endothelial cells
What is the role of the basal lamina in capillaries?
Helps maintain the structural integrity of the capillary
What are pericytes?
Contractile cells present along the outside of the basement membrane
What is a key feature of capillary beds?
Form dense networks with a large total cross-sectional area
Why is close proximity of capillaries to cells significant?
Facilitates efficient exchange
What is the relationship between flow velocity and surface area in capillaries?
Low flow velocity, high surface area
What characterizes continuous capillaries?
Endothelial cells joined by tight junctions
What types of substances can pass through continuous capillaries?
Small water-soluble solutes, lipid-soluble substances, macromolecules via pinocytotic vesicles
Where are continuous capillaries commonly found?
- Muscle tissue
- Central nervous system
- Lungs
- Skin
What distinguishes fenestrated capillaries from continuous capillaries?
Numerous pores (fenestrations) in endothelial cells
What is the permeability of fenestrated capillaries compared to continuous capillaries?
Greatly increased permeability to fluids and small solutes
Where are fenestrated capillaries commonly located?
- Kidneys (glomeruli)
- Intestinal villi
- Endocrine glands
What is the structure of sinusoidal (discontinuous) capillaries?
Large gaps between endothelial cells, discontinuous basement membrane
What can pass through sinusoidal capillaries?
Large molecules and even cells
Why is blood flow through sinusoids slower?
Allows time for exchange
Where are sinusoidal capillaries typically found?
- Liver (hepatic sinusoids)
- Bone marrow
- Spleen
What is the primary mechanism responsible for the movement of dissolved gases and small lipid-soluble substances across the endothelial cell membrane?
Diffusion
Diffusion is the primary process for gas exchange in capillaries.
What does Fick’s Law of Diffusion state?
The rate of diffusion is proportional to the concentration gradient, membrane surface area, and permeability, and inversely proportional to membrane thickness.
This law helps predict how substances move across membranes.
What is the difference between transcellular and paracellular pathways?
Transcellular: Lipid-soluble gases diffuse through endothelial cell membranes.
Paracellular: Small water-soluble substances diffuse through intercellular clefts.
These pathways describe how substances move across capillary walls.
Define bulk flow in the context of capillary processes.
Movement of fluid (water + dissolved solutes) en masse from one compartment to another, driven by pressure differences.
Bulk flow is crucial for nutrient delivery and waste removal.
Where does filtration predominantly occur in capillaries?
At the arteriolar end of capillaries, where capillary hydrostatic pressure is higher.
This is where fluid moves out into the interstitial space.
What happens during the reabsorption process in capillaries?
Fluid moves back into capillaries from the interstitium, mainly at the venular end.
This occurs when blood colloid osmotic pressure predominates.
What determines whether there is a net gain or loss of fluid from the capillary?
The balance between filtration and reabsorption.
Net filtration or reabsorption is critical for fluid homeostasis.