MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY

2nd SEMINAR 2010/11

PHYSICAL BACKGROUND
OF FLUID EXCHANGE IN
THE BODY

Mirjana Platiša
Institute of Biophysics
Belgrade Medical School
DIFFUSION

OSMOSIS

FILTRATION AND ABSORPTION

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 DIFFUSION
Random movement of particles from areas of high
concentration to areas of low concentration.

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/chapter2/animation__how_diffusion_works.html

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D - Diffusion Coefficient

Einstein’s Law of Stoke’s Law

Diffusion T↑ → D↑
For diffusion of colloidal For spherical particles,
particles, friction coefficient is:
D = kT/f f = 6πηr r↑ → D↓
f = friction coefficient
η = viscosity of medium
k = Boltzmann constant η↑ → D↓
(1.38 x 10-23 JK-1) r = radius of particle
T = absolute temperature f = 6πrη
D = RT / 6 π NA r η
(K)

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Einstein’s equation:

(∆x)2 = 2Dt , ∆x = √2Dt t = (∆x)2 / 2D

D – diffusion coefficient (cm2 /s)

The time required for diffusion over a given distance, ∆x, is proportional to
the square of the distance.

Example
D = 10-5 cm2/s
For 0.1 µm (10-5 cm), t ≈ 10-10 cm2 / (2 ·10-5 cm2/s) ≈ 5 µs
For 1 mm (10-1 cm), t ≈ 10-2 cm2 / (2 ·10-5 cm2/s) ≈ 8.3 min

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 Rate of diffusion
Gas > liquid

• Distances between molecules are much

shorter in a liquid than in a gas.
• Collisions are much more frequent.
• Migration becomes lesser.
• Thus, diffusion is slower.

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FICK’S LAW OF DIFFUSION

∆n ∆c
Q≡ = DA The amount of transferred
substance (∆n) through a
∆t x membrane during time
C1 C2 (∆t) depends on:
A • diffusion coefficient, D [cm2 /s]
Q
• membrane area, A [cm2],
• concentration difference ∆c
[mol/cm3]
• thickness, x [µm],

x
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Surface area

30 µm 10 µm

Surface area Total surface area

of 27 small cubes
of one large cube, A = 6a2 A = 27 (6a2)
A = 5400 µm2 A = 145800 µm2
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Gas exchange in the lungs occurs across ~ 300 millions alveoli (alveolus
radius, r = 70-300 µm and membrane thickness < 1 µm).

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 Total surface area available for gas exchange in
the human lung approximately is equal to:

• 1m2
• 2 m2
• 5 m2
• 10 m2
• 100 m2

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 Diffusion across cells membrane

• Semi-permeability

• Transport of substances
across membrane by
diffusion and osmosis is
PASSIVE TRANSPORT
– driven by difference in
concentrations.

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Movement of Substances across
Cell Membranes

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 OSMOSIS –DIFFUSION OF WATER

The movement of water

from an area of high to
low concentration of
water through semi-
permeable membrane.
- movement of water
toward an area of high
solute concentration

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/chapter2/animation__how_osmosis_works.html

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OSMOTIC PRESSURE, π

Diffusion of water across a membrane - osmosis - generates a pressure called

osmotic pressure. This pressure is hydrostatic ('water-stopping') pressure.

π = iMRT

i – Vant Hof factor,

M – molarity
R – gas constant
T - temperature

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 Osmosis – Examples

In which direction will there be net movement of water?

There will be NO net movement of water. Both solutions have equal molarity of
non-dissociating solutions, which means that concentrations of solute
molecules on each side is balanced.

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 In which direction will there be net movement of water?

In this case, concentrations are given in mass per liter. Both solutions have 1 gram
of solute per liter, BUT glucose is smaller than sucrose, so there are more
glucose molecules per liter than sucrose than liter. Water will flow toward to
side with higher concentration of solute particles.

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 In which direction will there be net movement of water?

The molar concentrations of NaCl and glucose are identical.

However, NaCl immediately dissociates into Na+ and Cl-
ions, which doubles concentration of solute particles.
Water moves to the LEFT.
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Why drinking of see water is followed
by dehydration?

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 Which solution has the higher osmotic pressure
1 M NaCl or 1 M CaCl2 ?

First find the osmolarity

NaCl dissociates into two ions CaCl2 dissociates into three ions
2 x 1 M
2 osmol/L 3 x 1 M
3 osmol/L

The higher the osmolarity the greater the osmotic pressure

Therefore, 1 M CaCl2 has the higher osmotic pressure.

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 Which solution has the higher osmotic pressure
1 M NaCl or3 M Glucose ?

First find the osmolarity

NaCl dissociates into two ions Glucose does not
dissociate
2 x 1 M
2 osmol/L 1 x 3 M
3 osmol/L

The higher the osmolarity the greater the osmotic pressure.

Therefore, 3 M Glucose has the higher osmotic

pressure.
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FILTRATION AND ABSORPTION
The direction and the magnitude of the movement of water
across the capillary wall according to Starling’s hypothesis
are determined by the difference of:

• 2 hydrostatic pressures

WATER

• 2 osmotic pressures

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Pc – capillary hydrostatic pressure
Pi –fluid hydrostatic pressure outside the cell

πc - plasma protein osmotic pressure

πi – interstitial fluid osmotic pressure

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P (pressure) ~ [∆ hydrostatic pressures - ∆ osmotic pressures]

FILTRATION P > 0
ABSORPTION P < 0

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