Contains dissolved substances such as: oxygen, carbon dioxide, amino acids, hormones, salts, glucose, fatty acids and plasma proteins.
Similar to blood - but does not contain most of the cells as well as plasma proteins.
Role: To transport oxygen and nutrients from blood to the cells.
How is tissue fluid formed?
1- Artery reaches tissues, branches into arterioles - then into network of capillaries.
2- Capillaries will eventually link up with venules - carry blood back to vein
3- Blood entering organ/tissue contained in capillary. - At arterial end of capillary blood is under high pressure - by contraction of heart muscle
(Blood under high pressure - known as hydrostatic pressure)
4- The hydrostatic pressure will PUSH blood fluid out of the capillaries
- Fluid can leave through tiny gaps of the capillary wall
- Fluid that leaves consists of plasma with dissolved nutrients and oxygen
- Components such as erythrocytes, platelets…