180
Dynamics
of
the
Vascular System
reverses during atrial contraction. Additionally, it can be seen from the
figure that pulmonary vein pressure and flow peak in an almost out-of-
phase manner. Figure
6.2.4
further illustrates the temporal relations
of
these flow waveforms.
6.2.3
Abnormal Venous Pressure
and
Flow Waveforms
As mentioned earlier that central venous pulse reflects the conditions
of
the heart. Fig.
6.2.5
illustrates the jugular venous pulse recorded in a
subject with coronary arterial disease (Benchimol,
198
1).
This waveform
will otherwise
be interpreted as normal with
identifiable
acxvy
landmarks. However, there is a prominent h wave, proceeding the atrial
contraction and is normally associated with abnormal filling.
Fig.
6.2.5:
Simultaneously recorded mitral
(MA),
tricuspid
(TA),
pulmonic
(PA)
and
aortic
(AA)
phonocardiograms, together with the jugular venous pulse tracing
(VT)
in
a
subject with coronary arterial disease.
a,
c,
x,
v,
y
waves can be identified, together with
an
h
wave. From Benchimol(l98
1).
