AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 250, Issue 5 706-H710, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society
Some consequences of capillary permeability to macromolecules: Starling's hypothesis reconsidered
E. M. Renkin
Starling's hypothesis ascribes fluid movements across capillary walls to
the interaction of hydrostatic and colloid osmotic forces. For 90 years it
has been recognized as the basis of plasma-to-interstitial fluid balance.
Its original statement was based on the notion of capillary impermeability
to plasma proteins. However, as knowledge of transcapillary exchange of
plasma proteins developed, its formulation was progressively modified to
allow for protein transport and for interaction of protein transport with
volume flow. The most important aspects of the conceptual evolution of
Starling's hypothesis are reviewed in the text of this lecture.
