The permeability coefficient of the wall of a villous membrane

Abstract

The equations hitherto used to correct the permeability coefficient for the unstirred layer influence are valid only for flat membranes. Therefore, appropriate equations for membranes with a villous surface (e.g., small intestine) have been derived. They take into account the non-linear concentration gradient in the intervillous part of the unstirred layer. Quantitative information about the geometry of the villous surface and the unstirred layer thickness are needed to calculate the permeability coefficient of the membrane wall (e.g., intestinal epithelium). The concentration of highly permeable substances drops sharply already in the upper part of intervillous space, so that the tips of the villi function as effective absorbing area. The intervillous concentration gradient of a substance with a low permeability coefficient is so small, that such a substance is absorbed by the total surface area of the villous membrane. The effective absorbing area of substances with intermediate permeability coefficient lies between the described limits.