Revised Starling Steady State Filtration — FRCA Primary MCQ
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Correct answer: D — The traditional view is that filtration occurs at the arterial end and reabsorption at the venous end but modern evidence suggests steady-state filtration occurs along the entire length with lymphatic drainage balancing the excess
The traditional Starling model assumed filtration at the arterial end (high Pc) and reabsorption at the venous end (Pc falls below plasma oncotic pressure). The revised steady-state glycocalyx model suggests that filtration occurs along the entire capillary length (no significant reabsorption occurs) and the lymphatic system drains the filtered fluid back to the circulation.
Reference: Power Kam 2018 Principles of Physiology for the Anaesthetist