BRAINCAKEFormation of Lymph
More tissue fluid leaves the capillaries at the arterial end than returns at the venous end. The excess must be drained away, or it would build up in the tissues. This is the job of the lymphatic system.
Among the cells of most tissues are tiny lymph capillaries. These are blind-ended tubes with very thin, permeable walls. The endothelial cells overlap loosely, acting like one-way flaps: fluid can pass into the lymph capillary but cannot easily pass back out. Once the excess tissue fluid has entered these vessels it is called lymph.
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Key terms in this lesson
- oedema
- The build-up of excess fluid in the tissues, for example when too much tissue fluid is formed or too little is drained away.
More in Circulatory Systems
- Capillaries
- Veins and venules
- Tissue Fluid
- Oncotic Pressure
- Hydrostatic Pressure
- Arterial End of Capillaries
- Venous End of Capillaries
- Lymph Nodes
All 33 lessons in Circulatory Systems · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics