Question

   Explain the factors that influence fluid shifts at the capillary level.

Answer 1

Ans) The intrinsic circulatory process resulting from capillary fluid shift that modulates the force with which blood travels through the systemic arterial circulatory system.

- Capillary fluid shift is the movement of fluid across the capillary membrane between the blood and the interstitial fluid compartment.

- Fluid shifts occur when the body's fluids move between the fluid compartments.

- Physiologically, this occurs by a combination of hydrostatic pressure gradients and osmotic pressure gradients.

- Water will move from one space into the next passively across a semi permeable membrane until the hydrostatic and osmotic pressure gradients balance each other.

- Many medical conditions can cause fluid shifts. When fluid moves out of the intravascular compartment (the blood vessels), blood pressure can drop to dangerously low levels, endangering critical organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys; when it shifts out of the cells (the intracellular compartment), cellular processes slow down or cease from intracellular dehydration; when excessive fluid accumulates in the interstitial space, oedema develops; and fluid shifts into the brain cells can cause increased cranial pressure.

- Fluid shifts may be compensated by fluid replacement or diuretics.