Cardiovascular System- Venous Return

Question 1

Venous return

Answer 1

Return of blood to the right side of the heart via the vena cava

Question 2

3 venous return mechanisms

Answer 2

Skeletal pump
-muscles contract and relax in shape. This change in shape means that the muscles press on the nearby veins and cause a pumping effect and squeeze the blood towards the heart

Respiratory pump
-muscles contract and relax during breathing in and out, pressure changes occur in the chest and stomach cavities. These changes in pressure compress the nearby veins and assist blood return to the heart

Pocket valves
-important that blood In the veins only flows in one direction. The presence of valves ensure that once blood has passes through the valves, they close to prevent the blood flowing back

Question 3

Factors that aid venous return

Answer 3

• Very thin layer of smooth muscle in the walls or the veins. This helps squeeze blood back to the heart.
• Gravity helps the blood return to the heart from the upper body
• Suction pump of the heart