Filtration

Definition

Filtration in the context of capillary exchange is the process by which blood pressure forces fluid and small solutes through the capillary wall, leaving larger components like proteins and blood cells behind. It is a crucial mechanism for the movement of water and nutrients from blood into tissues.

Related terms

Capillary Exchange:

The process by which oxygen, nutrients, and wastes are exchanged between blood and tissue cells through capillary walls.

Hydrostatic Pressure:

The force exerted by a fluid due to its pressure as observed in blood vessels, driving filtration at the arterial end of capillaries.

Osmotic Pressure:

The pressure required to prevent solvent (such as water) from moving across a semipermeable membrane; it pulls fluid back into capillaries balancing filtration