Transmission of Applied Pressure Through Tissues: Interstitial Fluid Pressure, Solid Tissue Pressure, and Total Tissue Pressure

Abstract

Plethysmography was used to study the effects of changes in ambient pressure on interstitial fluid pressure, solid tissue pressure and total tissue pressure in the subcutaneous tissue of the dog hindleg. It was found that the interstitial fluid pressure in normally hydrated subcutaneous changes by only 70% of the pressure applied to the skin while total tissue pressure changes by 100% of the applied pressure. Concepts of interstitial structure and the interrelationships between fluid pressure, solid, pressure and total pressure in the interstitial spaces are discussed in relation to these results.