Venous Return Flashcards
1
Q
What is venous return?
A
Return of blood to the right side of the heart via the vena cava
2
Q
What are the four components of the venous return mechanisms?
A
Skeletal muscle pump
Respiratory pump
Pocket valves
Suction action of the heart
3
Q
What is the role of the skeletal muscle pump?
A
Muscle contracts and squeezes vein, pumping blood alone
4
Q
What is the role of the respiratory pump?
A
Pressure changes during inhalation and exhalation compress veins and push blood back to heart
Suction effect of the heart
5
Q
What is the role of pocket valves?
A
Prevent backflow of blood
6
Q
What is the importance of the suction action of the heart?
A
Greater the contractions of the heart, the greater the suction action, pulling blood back to the heart
