Venous return mechanism Flashcards
Name the five venous return mechanisms.
- Skeletal muscle pump
- Pocket valves
- Respiratory pump
- Smooth muscle veins
- Gravity
What is a pocket valve and its purpose?
One way valve that prevents backflow of blood.
What is a skeletal muscle pump and there purpose?
Veins are between skeletal muscle, which when contracting, push the blood back towards the heart.
What is the respiratory pump and its purpose?
When breathing deeply, it increases the thoracic cavity, squeezing the large veins in the area, forcing blood back to the heart.
What is smooth muscle vein and its purpose?
Venoconstriction and vasodilation of the smooth muscle in the middle layer of the vein pushes blood back towards the heart.
What is Gravity and its purpose?
Blood from the upper body is aided by gravity, so flows back to the heart quicker,
Superior vena cava will have faster VR than the inferior.
