At the venular end of the capillary, the hydrostatic pressure is?
A) higher than the osmotic pressrue
B) lower than the osmotic pressure
C) equal to the osmotic pressure
D) higher than the hydrostatic pressure at the arteriolar end of the capillary
To determine the hydrostatic pressure at the venular end of the capillary, we need to understand the forces acting on the capillary wall.
The hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted on the wall of the capillary by the fluid inside it. This pressure is primarily determined by the pumping action of the heart and the resistance to blood flow in the capillaries.
On the other hand, the osmotic pressure is the pressure exerted by dissolved solutes (such as proteins) in the blood plasma. Osmotic pressure is created by the difference in concentration of solutes across the capillary wall, which causes fluid to move from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
At the arteriolar end of the capillary, the hydrostatic pressure is higher than the osmotic pressure. This is because the pumping action of the heart and the resistance to blood flow create a force that pushes fluid out of the capillary.
As the fluid moves through the capillary, it loses pressure due to friction and resistance. Thus, at the venular end of the capillary, the hydrostatic pressure is lower than the hydrostatic pressure at the arteriolar end.
So, the correct answer is B) lower than the osmotic pressure.
At the venular end of the capillary, the hydrostatic pressure is:
B) lower than the osmotic pressure.