The return of water to the blood within a capillary bed is dependent upon ____.
A)vasodilation
B)cardiac output
C)elastic recoil
D)blood osmotic pressure
E)active transport

Question

The return of water to the blood within a capillary bed is dependent upon ____. ​
A)vasodilation
B)cardiac output
C)elastic recoil
D)blood osmotic pressure
E)active transport

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The return of water to the blood within a capillary bed is dependent upon blood osmotic pressure, which pulls water back into the bloodstream. As blood flows through the capillaries, water and small solutes are forced out of the capillaries due to hydrostatic pressure. However, the blood within the capillaries has a higher concentration of proteins and other solutes compared to the interstitial fluid outside the capillaries. This creates a difference in solute concentration, which generates an osmotic pressure gradient. This gradient pulls water back into the capillaries, helping to return it to the bloodstream. This process is driven by the osmotic pressure of the blood, which is primarily dependent upon the concentration of proteins in plasma.

The Return of Water to the Blood Within a Capillary