State that water is the main component of blood and tissue fluid and relate the properties of water to its role in transport in mammals, limited to solvent action and high specific heat capacity

Sourav PanOctober 29, 2024

Answered

Water is the primary constituent of both blood (approximately 92% in plasma) and tissue fluid (about 96%) in mammals, highlighting its crucial role in various physiological processes, including transport.

Properties of Water Relevant to Transport in Mammals:

1. Solvent Action:
   • Property: Water’s polar nature allows it to dissolve a wide variety of substances (solutes), making it an excellent solvent.
   • Role in Transport:
     • Blood: Water in blood plasma dissolves nutrients (e.g., glucose, amino acids), gases (e.g., oxygen, carbon dioxide), hormones, and waste products, facilitating their transport to/from cells.
     • Tissue Fluid: Similarly, water in tissue fluid enables the exchange of these substances between blood and cells, ensuring cellular homeostasis.
2. High Specific Heat Capacity:
   • Property: Water has a high specific heat capacity (approximately 4.184 J/g°C), meaning it can absorb and release a significant amount of heat energy without a large change in temperature.
   • Role in Transport (Thermoregulation Aspect):
     • Blood: Helps maintain a relatively constant body temperature by absorbing/releasing heat as blood circulates to/from the skin and other organs.
     • Tissue Fluid: Contributes to local thermoregulation, protecting cells from extreme temperature fluctuations, thus ensuring optimal metabolic function during substance transport.

Relationship to Transport in Mammals:
The solvent action of water enables the dissolution and transport of vital substances throughout the body, while its high specific heat capacity supports thermoregulation, indirectly aiding in maintaining optimal conditions for transport processes to occur efficiently.

Key Points:

• Water Composition:
  • Blood: ~92% water
  • Tissue Fluid: ~96% water
• Water’s Key Properties for Transport:
  1. Solvent Action: Facilitates dissolution and transport of substances.
  2. High Specific Heat Capacity: Supports thermoregulation, ensuring optimal transport conditions.