A step from the physiology to the physiome

he circulatory system provides body organs with nutrients nd oxygen and removes carbon dioxide and other waste aterials. Most exchanges occur at the capillary bed. The apillary exchange is not fixed but regulated by several facors such as hydrostatic and oncotic pressure in the vascular nd extracellular compartments.1 Himeno et al2 tried to preict mathematically a steady state tissue volume and protein ovement at capillary bed in response to change in blood ressure. By using a capillary model, which was based on Staring’s principle, they concluded that the system of the capillary s stable near equilibrium at a normal physiological capilary pressure and the time course of tissue volume change s determined by the rapid fluid exchange and protein fluxes. his article is especially invaluable in that effects of nonlinear ompliance, lymphatic fluid, and protein drainage on dynamic issue volume were systematically assessed by using an interated computational model of capillary fluid exchange. We ope the capillary fluid exchange model is further integrated nto the model of heart and circulation to explain how intake r loss of fluid, salt, and protein can develop tissue dehydraion or edema.