ANATOMY OF THE INTERSTITIAL TISSUE

H Haljamae

Abstract


Aspects on composition and function of the interstitial
tissue have been given. The glycosaminoglycans of
the interstitium have at physiological pH a net negative
charge and are osmotically active. They restrict
free diffussion through the interstitium. The ground
substance phase can be further subdivided into a
colloid-rich subphase and a colloid-poor subphase.
The latter seems to constitute the true tissue fluid
phase of the interstitium. The functional importance
of the interstitium on exchange processes between the
vascular and the cellular compartments is discussed.
Changes in aggregation and hydration of the ground
substance change the physico-chemical properties
and the functional characteristics of the interstitium.


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