Exudate: This is a protein-rich fluid containing cellular components that leaks from blood vessels as a result of inflammation, settling in nearby tissues. The inflammation causes blood vessel walls to become more permeable, allowing large molecules and solid particles to pass through. It's as if the vessels are sweating, echoing the Latin term "exsudare," meaning to sweat out, from which the word is derived.In contrast, a transudate is a fluid that moves through a membrane, which filters out most of the protein and cellular elements, resulting in a watery solution. The process of transudation occurs due to increased venous pressure or low protein levels in the serum, which forces fluid through the vessel walls. Essentially, a transudate is a filtrate of blood.
