What is capillary hydrostatic pressure?

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What is capillary hydrostatic pressure?

Capillary hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by the fluid inside the capillary lumen on the capillary walls. It acts as an outward force that pushes water and small solutes from the capillary into the surrounding interstitial space, driving filtration. This pressure comes from arterial pressure transmitted into the capillaries and typically decreases from the arterial to the venous end. It is distinct from venous pressure, pressure inside the arterial lumen as a whole, or interstitial fluid pressure, which is why describing it as the pressure of blood within capillaries is the best fit.

Capillary hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by the fluid inside the capillary lumen on the capillary walls. It acts as an outward force that pushes water and small solutes from the capillary into the surrounding interstitial space, driving filtration. This pressure comes from arterial pressure transmitted into the capillaries and typically decreases from the arterial to the venous end. It is distinct from venous pressure, pressure inside the arterial lumen as a whole, or interstitial fluid pressure, which is why describing it as the pressure of blood within capillaries is the best fit.

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