The Student Room Group
Uni students - Complete our survey >>
Uni students - Complete our survey >>
Uni students - Complete our survey >>

Hydrostatic force in blood vessels and gravity

Hi,

Why does the hydrostatic pressure fall further away from the heart? Also how is gravity related to hydrostatic pressure?

Tx
Hi there,

While you're waiting for an answer, did you know we have 300,000 study resources that could answer your question in TSR's Learn together section?

We have everything from Teacher Marked Essays to Mindmaps and Quizzes to help you with your work. Take a look around.

If you're stuck on how to get started, try creating some resources. It's free to do and can help breakdown tough topics into manageable chunks. Get creating now.

Thanks!

Not sure what all of this is about? Head here to find out more.
Reply 2
Avatar for zed963
zed963
16
Basic blood flow is from the aorta to the capillaries and then back to the vein.

Capillary has two ends the arterial and the venous end. The pressure in the arterial is high where as the pressure in the venous end is low. High pressure is caused by the systole of the left ventricle.

The hydrostatics pressure has to be greater than the water potential pressure so that tissue fluid can move from the capillary and into the cells.

The pressure decreases at the venous end due to the large surface area and friction.

Also towards the venous end water gets reabsorbed from the cell due to the cell having a higher water potential than the capillary therefore water moves by diffusion down a water potential gradient.


Posted from TSR Mobile

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you