.
( 9anm of 11)
The interstitial area of cellular organisms is the area between cells. It is filled with fluid. This interstitial area is also called intercellular and extracellular (1). There are also interstitial cells; however this seems to be an unnecessary and confusing designation because interstitial refers to the space between cells and not the cells themselves.
The outermost portion of the interstitial area is called the interstitium. The interstitium is divided into many fluid-filled spaces whereas the interstitial is not. Per
researchgate.net, the interstitium's fluid-filled spaces are supported by a reticular pattern (lattice, mesh, net, grid, web, matrix) of thick collagen fiber bundles forming dark curvilinear bands. (06.03.21 update after composing UC#2466 on mental health: I suspect the interstitium serves as a breakwater buffer and tension pressure regulator. This then means intracellular homeostasis uses the interstitial and it's interstitium as a release valve zone and a quick access ready and willing resupply zone.)
Collagen fibers are very strong, comparable to iron or steel but are very tiny and are of
variable width and length.
I imagine the interstitium as a wavy-shaped grid that more than likely changes its reticulating shape depending on the amount of fluid in each compartment and in the surrounding cells and remainder of the interstitial area. I further imagine the interstitium to be similar to an irregular-shaped ever-changing honeycomb-like pattern.
As part of connective tissue, the interstitium serves as support to hold things together and provide an earlier buffer and shock absorber to dampen energies before they reach the rest of the interstitial and deeper cells. Not only are collagen fibers strong, but the interstitium is made significantly stronger when the fibers are arrayed in a reticular pattern.
The collagen bundles in the interstitial space are lined on only one side by cells, implying that the opposite side of the interstitium network is in direct contact with interstitial fluid. This means the interstitium serves as the boundary wall for the interstitial container which is composed of layers like many other containers.
As we are seeking understandings, we are listening, asking questions and making logical use of metaphor per the fundamental keys. We search our memory banks and quickly remember that the interstitial, its fluids, solids, gases and interstitium boundary are likely metaphors for black energy and black matter (outer space) as a fluid type of connective tissue between the moving parts of the universe.
(1) In animals containing blood, plasma is a yellow form of extracellular fluid but it is found within blood vessels but outside of red blood cells white blood cells and platelet cells. Plasma is also called intravascular fluid.
Transcellular fluid is neither intracellular nor extracellular.
It located under the last layer of cellular membranes which are made of epithelial cells. Thus all cells have an outer layer of skin and an inner layer of skin.
Lymph fluid is a collection of excess fluid from intracellular spaces, transcellular spaces and extracellular spaces. Lymph travels in lymph vessels called capillaries, tubes and ducts that are the same or similar to blood vessels except these vessels transport lymph fluid only.
Interstitial fluid in plants is often called apoplastic fluid which also contains solids and air.
Structure and Distribution of an Unrecognized Interstitium in Human Tissues
