Exchange Of Materials

Pressure filtration causes plasma to pass through the capillary walls into the tissue fluid surrounding the cells Tissue fluid and plasma are similar in composition with the exception of plasma proteins which are too large to be filtered through the capillary walls

Tissue fluid supplies cells with glucose, oxygen and other substances Carbon dioxide and other metabolic wastes diffuse out of the cells and into the tissue fluid to be excreted Much of the tissue fluid returns to the blood

Lymphatic vessels absorb excess tissue fluid and return it as lymph to the circulatory system