Hydrostatic pressure refers to the pressure that any fluid in a confined space exerts. ... The pressure that blood exerts in the capillaries is known as blood pressure. The force of hydrostatic pressure means that as blood moves along the capillary, fluid moves out through its pores and into the interstitial space.

What does hydrostatic pressure mean?

: pressure exerted by or existing within a liquid at rest with respect to adjacent bodies.

Why is it called hydrostatic pressure?

Hydrostatic is a word used to refer to a fluid that is not in motion. So, hydrostatic pressure means the pressure “inside” a non-moving fluid—not the pressure exerted by, say, the water coming out of a fire hose.