Final answer:
The statement is false as hydrostatic pressure is not the only regulator of water transfer between intracellular and interstitial fluid. Osmotic pressure also significantly influences fluid movement, alongside active transport mechanisms. Hydrostatic pressure, however, is crucial for processes like filtration in the kidneys.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that hydrostatic pressure serves as the chief regulator of water transfer between intracellular and interstitial fluid is false. Hydrostatic pressure is indeed a primary force driving fluid movement, specifically the movement out of capillaries and into tissues due to the pressure exerted by blood against vascular walls.
However, it is not the only regulator of water transfer between intracellular and interstitial spaces. Fluid can also move along an osmotic gradient, and in some cases, active transport processes that require energy can move substances against concentration gradients.
The osmotic pressure also plays a key role by drawing fluid back into the capillaries where solute concentrations are higher, balancing the outflow driven by hydrostatic pressure.
In the context of the kidneys, hydrostatic pressure is critical in ensuring proper filtering of blood to form urine. An imbalance can result in either increased urine filtrate formation or impaired kidney function, leading to potential kidney failure in the case of severe dehydration.
Overall, both hydrostatic and osmotic pressures contribute to the dynamic equilibrium of fluid transfer throughout the body.