The essential role of arterial pulse in venous return. 2022

Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.

The close proximity of arteries and veins is a well-known anatomical finding documented in the extremities of all vertebrates. However, the physiological consequences of this arrangement are rarely given proper consideration nor are they covered in the textbook list of mechanisms that aid blood flow. We hypothesized that arterial pressure pulsations can significantly increase blood flow in the adjacent valve-containing vein segments. To demonstrate the existence of this mechanism, 10- to 15-cm sections of the bovine forelimb neurovascular bundle were isolated. The proximal and distal ends of the median artery and adjacent veins were cannulated, their tributaries were tied off, and the dissected bundle was then inserted into an airtight enclosure to mimic in vivo encasement by surrounding muscle. Pulsatile pressure was subsequently applied to the arterial segment while recording venous flow. At pressure settings mimicking physiological scenarios, arterial pulsations caused a highly significant increase in venous return. The amplitude of this effect was dependent on the arterial pulsation rate, stroke volume, and pressure gradient across the vein segment.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011673 Pulsatile Flow Rhythmic, intermittent propagation of a fluid through a BLOOD VESSEL or piping system, in contrast to constant, smooth propagation, which produces laminar flow. Flow, Pulsating,Perfusion, Pulsatile,Flow, Pulsatile,Flows, Pulsatile,Flows, Pulsating,Perfusions, Pulsatile,Pulsatile Flows,Pulsatile Perfusion,Pulsatile Perfusions,Pulsating Flow,Pulsating Flows
D002417 Cattle Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor. Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001158 Arteries The vessels carrying blood away from the heart. Artery
D014680 Veins The vessels carrying blood away from the CAPILLARY BEDS. Vein

Related Publications

Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
December 1970, Fiziologicheskii zhurnal SSSR imeni I. M. Sechenova,
Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
July 1963, JAMA,
Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
June 1994, Annales de chirurgie plastique et esthetique,
Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
November 1990, Giornale di clinica medica,
Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
October 1966, Angiology,
Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
February 1990, Chest,
Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
August 1969, Das Deutsche Gesundheitswesen,
Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
October 1965, Rinsho byori. The Japanese journal of clinical pathology,
Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
May 1959, The American journal of physiology,
Narine M LeFevre, and Narine Sarvazyan
June 1988, Archives des maladies du coeur et des vaisseaux,
Copied contents to your clipboard!