What proportion of the total body volume is composed of the spaces between cells, collectively called the interstitium?

Correct answer: About one sixth

Explanation

This question tests the knowledge of the relative volumes of the major body fluid compartments, specifically the size of the interstitial space.

Other questions

Question 1

What is the general internal diameter of arterioles before they branch to supply capillaries?

Question 2

Which characteristic distinguishes metarterioles from arterioles in the microcirculation structure?

Question 3

What is the structure called that is located at the origin of a true capillary from a metarteriole and can open and close the entrance to the capillary?

Question 4

What is the approximate total thickness of a typical capillary wall in most organs of the body?

Question 5

What is the typical width of the intercellular clefts, the slit-pores that connect the interior of the capillary with the exterior?

Question 6

What is the believed role of caveolae, the minute plasmalemmal vesicles, in the endothelial cells?

Question 7

In which organ are the junctions between capillary endothelial cells mainly tight junctions, allowing only extremely small molecules like water and oxygen to pass through?

Question 8

What is the key characteristic of the clefts between capillary endothelial cells in the liver?

Question 9

What is the most important factor found so far that affects the degree of opening and closing of metarterioles and precapillary sphincters, a phenomenon known as vasomotion?

Question 10

What is the most important means by which substances are transferred between the plasma and the interstitial fluid?

Question 11

How do lipid-soluble substances such as oxygen and carbon dioxide move across the capillary endothelium?

Question 12

What is the primary pathway for the diffusion of water-soluble, non-lipid-soluble substances like sodium ions and glucose across the capillary membrane?

Question 13

According to Table 16-1, what is the relative permeability of skeletal muscle capillary pores for glucose molecules compared to water molecules?

Question 14

Based on the data in Table 16-1 regarding skeletal muscle capillary pores, what is the relative permeability for albumin molecules?

Question 16

What are the two major types of solid structures contained within the interstitium?

Question 17

Among the Starling forces, which pressure tends to cause osmosis of fluid inward through the capillary membrane?

Question 18

How is the net filtration pressure (NFP) across the capillaries calculated using the four Starling forces?

Question 19

What is the average capillary pressure measured in the middle of capillaries in tissues like skeletal muscle using the direct micropipette cannulation method?

Question 20

What is the average interstitial fluid pressure in loose subcutaneous tissue under normal conditions?

Question 21

What is described as the basic cause of the negative pressure measured for fluid in the interstitial spaces?

Question 22

What is the average colloid osmotic pressure of normal human plasma?

Question 23

From the point of view of capillary and tissue fluid dynamics, which plasma protein is considered most important for creating colloid osmotic pressure?

Question 24

What percentage of the total colloid osmotic pressure of the plasma results from albumin?

Question 25

What is the average interstitial fluid colloid osmotic pressure in most tissues?

Question 26

In the analysis of forces at the arterial end of a capillary, what is the calculated total outward force?

Question 27

Based on the quantitative analysis of forces at the venous end of the capillary, what is the net inward force (net reabsorption pressure)?

Question 28

In the Starling equilibrium for the entire length of the capillary, what is the calculated mean functional capillary pressure?

Question 29

According to the analysis of the Starling equilibrium for the total capillary circulation, what is the net outward force?

Question 30

What is the normal rate of net filtration of fluid in the entire body, excluding the kidneys?

Question 31

The return of which substance from the interstitial spaces to the blood by the lymphatic system is described as an essential function, without which a person would die in about 24 hours?

Question 32

Lymph from the right side of the neck and head, right arm, and parts of the right thorax enters which structure before emptying into the venous system?

Question 33

Into which structure do essentially all the lymph vessels from the lower part of the body eventually empty?

Question 34

On average, what proportion of the fluid filtering from the arterial ends of blood capillaries enters the lymphatic capillaries instead of being reabsorbed into the venous capillaries?

Question 35

What special structure of the terminal lymphatic capillaries allows them to be highly permeable to substances of high molecular weight, like proteins?

Question 36

What is the typical protein concentration of lymph formed in the liver?

Question 37

Because about two thirds of all lymph is derived from the liver and intestines, what is the usual protein concentration of the thoracic duct lymph?

Question 38

What is the total estimated rate of lymph flow in a resting human?

Question 39

What is the total quantity of lymph that flows into the circulation per day under normal conditions?

Question 40

According to Figure 16-8, what is the effect on lymph flow when the interstitial fluid pressure rises from its normal negative value to 0 mm Hg (atmospheric pressure)?

Question 41

What happens when a collecting lymphatic or larger lymph vessel becomes stretched with fluid?

Question 42

What is the potential increase in lymph flow during exercise due to the pumping caused by external intermittent compression of the lymphatics?

Question 43

What is the maximum pressure that the lymphatic pump in a very large lymph vessel, such as the thoracic duct, can generate?

Question 44

In the process of controlling interstitial fluid protein concentration, what is the initial event that leads to an increase in interstitial fluid colloid osmotic pressure?

Question 45

What is the direct consequence of an increasing interstitial fluid pressure on the lymphatic system?

Question 46

What is the primary mechanism that holds body tissues together, especially at points where connective tissue fibers are weak or absent?

Question 47

If 2 milliliters of a solution containing 5 mg/ml of indicator dye are injected into a fluid compartment, and the final concentration after mixing is 0.02 mg/ml, what is the volume of the compartment?

Question 48

Calculate the net filtration pressure (NFP) given the following values: Capillary hydrostatic pressure (Pc) = 25 mm Hg, Interstitial fluid hydrostatic pressure (Pif) = -5 mm Hg, Plasma colloid osmotic pressure (Πp) = 28 mm Hg, and Interstitial fluid colloid osmotic pressure (Πif) = 10 mm Hg.

Question 49

According to Table 16-1, which lists the relative permeability of skeletal muscle capillary pores, what is the permeability of urea relative to water?

Question 50

What is the primary force that normally prevents significant loss of fluid volume from the blood into the interstitial spaces?