What is increased by the counter current flow of blood and dialysis in the dialysis process?

In the dialysis process, the counter current flow of blood and dialysis fluid significantly enhances the efficiency of diffusion. This arrangement allows for the optimal exchange of solutes between the blood and the dialysis fluid.

As blood flows in one direction and the dialysis solution moves in the opposite direction, the concentration gradient across the semi-permeable membrane is maintained. This gradient is crucial for effective diffusion, as it maximizes the movement of waste products and excess substances from the blood into the dialysis fluid. The continuous change in the concentration of solutes on both sides of the membrane ensures that there is always a driving force for the solutes to diffuse, thus increasing the overall efficiency of the dialysis process.

In this way, the counter current mechanism facilitates a more thorough removal of toxins, electrolytes, and metabolic waste from the bloodstream, while also allowing for the potential reabsorption of necessary substances from the dialysis fluid back into the blood, depending on the concentrations present.