Venous return mechanisms

Venous return is the return of blood to the right side of the heart via the vena cava. Up to 70% of
the total volume of blood is contained in the veins at rest. This means that a large amount of blood
can be returned to the heart when needed. During exercise, the amount of blood returning to the Valve
heart (venous return) increases. This means that if more blood is being pumped back to the heart
Epithelium
then more blood has to be pumped out, so stroke volume will increase
Smooth
muscle
Connective
The pressure of the blood in the large veins tissue
is very low and this makes it difficult to
return blood back to the heart. In addition
the large lumen of the vein offers little Smooth muscle
resistance to blood flow.
A thin layer of smooth Blood flow caused by
muscle contraction
muscle in the veins helps
Venula squeeze blood back Valve
towards the heart. open
Valves
Skeletal muscle pump This means that active mechanisms are Valves
When muscles contract and relax, they press on nearby veins, causing needed to help venous return. prevent the
a pumping effect and squeezing the blood towards the heart. backflow of
Respiratory pump blood.
Relaxed muscle Contracted muscle When muscles contract and relax during the inspiration and expiration process, Valve
Vein Valve closed
pressure changes occur in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. These pressure
changes compress the nearby veins and assist blood return to the heart. Calf muscle contracted

Valves To Gravity
To heart
open heart
Gravity helps the blood return to the heart
Air taken in
from the upper body. Air forced out

Ribcage Lung Lung

moves upwards Ribcage
and outwards falls

Diaphragm Diaphragm
contracts relaxes and
and is rises to dome-
pulled flat shaped position

PEReviewExtras
Inhaling (breathing in) Exhaling (breathing out)
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pereviewextras

Sue Young teaches at Greenhead

College, Huddersfield and is co-editor of
PE Review.

16 PE Review April 2017 www.hoddereducation.co.uk/pereview 17