Hydrostatic pressure is defined as what?

Hydrostatic pressure is defined as what?

• A. An osmotic pulling pressure
• B. Pressure generated by blood viscosity
• C. Intermittent pressure within capillaries
• D. A 'pushing' pressure that pushes fluid out of a compartment into the next, which can cause edema

Answer: (D)

The main idea is the pushing force that drives fluid out of one space into another. Hydrostatic pressure is that pushing pressure—particularly inside capillaries—pushing water and small solutes through the vessel wall into the surrounding interstitial space. This outward force helps explain filtration from vessels into tissues. When capillary hydrostatic pressure rises (or the opposing oncotic pressure falls), net filtration increases, leading to fluid accumulation in tissues, i.e., edema. By contrast, osmotic or oncotic pressure is the pulling force that draws fluid back in, and hydrostatic pressure is not about blood viscosity or intermittent pressure; it’s specifically the continuous pushing pressure that pushes fluid outward.

The main idea is the pushing force that drives fluid out of one space into another. Hydrostatic pressure is that pushing pressure—particularly inside capillaries—pushing water and small solutes through the vessel wall into the surrounding interstitial space. This outward force helps explain filtration from vessels into tissues. When capillary hydrostatic pressure rises (or the opposing oncotic pressure falls), net filtration increases, leading to fluid accumulation in tissues, i.e., edema. By contrast, osmotic or oncotic pressure is the pulling force that draws fluid back in, and hydrostatic pressure is not about blood viscosity or intermittent pressure; it’s specifically the continuous pushing pressure that pushes fluid outward.