A patient with advanced heart failure experiences worsening edema in their legs. Which mechanism explains why the Starling forces lead to increased fluid accumulation in the interstitial space?

💡 Explanation

Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure causes edema because it raises the pressure pushing fluid out of the capillaries and into the interstitial space. This outweighs the opposing oncotic pressure, therefore fluid accumulates rather than being reabsorbed, and other options would reduce edema.

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