Kudosnesteitä

Kudosnesteitä, often translated as "tissue fluid" or "interstitial fluid," is the fluid that bathes the cells of the body outside of the blood vessels. It is derived from blood plasma that filters through the thin walls of capillaries. This fluid fills the spaces between cells, known as the interstitial space, and plays a crucial role in the transport of nutrients, oxygen, hormones, and waste products between the blood and the cells.

The composition of kudosnesteitä is similar to blood plasma but with a lower concentration of proteins, as most large protein molecules are too large to pass through the capillary walls. It contains water, ions, small molecules like glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and waste products such as carbon dioxide and urea. The movement of kudosnesteitä is driven by pressure gradients, primarily hydrostatic pressure (pushing fluid out of capillaries) and osmotic pressure (pulling fluid back into capillaries).

A significant portion of kudosnesteitä is returned to the bloodstream via the venous system, while the remainder enters the lymphatic system, becoming lymph. The lymphatic system then transports this fluid back to the circulatory system. This continuous process of filtration, diffusion, and reabsorption ensures that cells receive the necessary substances and that waste products are efficiently removed. Dysregulation of kudosnesteitä balance can lead to conditions like edema, characterized by the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces.