ABSTRACT

Transport of fluid and metabolites from blood to tissue is critically important for maintaining the viability and function of cells within the body. Similarly, transport of fluid and waste products from tissue to the

lymphatic system

of vessels and nodes is also crucial to maintain tissue and organ health. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms for transporting fluid containing micro-and macromolecules from blood to tissue and the drainage of this fluid into the lymphatic system. Because of the succinct nature of this chapter, readers are encouraged to consult more complete reviews of blood, tissue, and lymphatic transport by Aukland and Reed [1993], Bert and Pearce [1984], Casley-Smith [1982], Curry [1984], Hargens [1986], Jain [1987], Lai-Fook [1986], Levick [1984], Reddy [1986], Schmid-Schönbein [1990], Schmid-Schönbein and Zweifach [1994], Staub [1988], Staub, Hogg, and Hargens [1987], Taylor and Granger [1984], Zweifach and Lipowsky [1984], and Zweifach and Silverberg [1985].