Neck & Veins Examination
Pathophysiology: Neck Veins
Jugular Venous Waves
What causes each of these pulsations?
In every cardiac chamber, pressure tracings are the exact opposite of volume tracings.
- a wave is due to atrial contraction: It occurs just before the first heart sound and carotid pulse.
- x descent is due to right atrial relaxation.
- c wave is caused by the bulging of the tricuspid valve closing back toward the right atrium during ventricular isovolumetric contraction.
- x descent is due to subsequent atrial relaxation.
- v wave results when the filling in the atrium overcomes the descent of the base.
- y descent is caused by the opening of the tricuspid valve. Thus the y descent cannot begin until after the S2.
X prime descent is most dominant wave and the most important as it correlates with systolic function.