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Interstitial space (biology)

Interstitial space (biology)

In biology, the interstitial space, also called the tissue space, is the space that surrounds the cells of a given tissue. It is filled with interstitial fluid. refers to a "small opening or space between objects". Together with the vascular space, the interstitial space comprises the extracellular space.cite journal |author=Fleischhauer J, Lehmann L, Kléber AG |title=Electrical resistances of interstitial and microvascular space as determinants of the extracellular electrical field and velocity of propagation in ventricular myocardium |journal=Circulation |volume=92 |issue=3 |pages=587–94 |year=1995 |month=August |pmid=7634473 |doi= |url=http://www.circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/92/3/587] When excessive fluid accumulates in the interstitial space, edema develops.cite book |author=Wiese D |chapter=Edema |editor= Tierney LM, Henderson MA |title=The Patient History: Evidence Based Approach |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=2005 |pages= 249 |isbn=0-07-140260-8 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate= 2008-07-01 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=QrkPmMyJsagC&pg=PA249&dq=%22interstitial+space%22&lr=&client=firefox-a&sig=ACfU3U3m5F-az_Z13xfkdK4LRXBEBmfGjQ]

In the lungs there is an interstitial space between capillaries (tiny blood vessels) and the alveoli (the microscopic air-filled sacs in the lungs responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere). For gas exchange to occur, carbon dioxide must diffuse across the epithelium of the capillaries across the interstitial space, and across the alveolar epithelium; oxygen must diffuse the other direction.

References

External links

*Levitt DG. [http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6904/3/3 The pharmacokinetics of the interstitial space in humans] BMC Clinical Pharmacology 2003, 3:3doi:10.1186/1472-6904-3-3


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