Venous System: Physiology of the Capacitance Vessels

The sections in this article are: 1 Synopsis 2 Perspectives 3 Definitions and Basic Concepts 3.1 Definitions 3.2 Active Contraction of Veins 3.3 Effect of Flow on Vascular Volume 3.4 Central Venous Pressure 3.5 Mean Circulatory Filling Pressure 3.6 Venous Hemodynamics 3.7 Venous Resistance 4 Structural Characteristics of Veins 4.1 Anatomy 4.2 Volume of Blood 4.3 Vascular Compliance 4.4 Linearity of Pressure-Volume Relationship 5 Venous Return and Potential Role of Veins in Cardiovascular Homeostasis 5.1 Guytonian Relationship Between Venous Return and Cardiac Output 5.2 De Jager-Krogh Phenomenon 5.3 Venous Pooling on Standing 6 Reflex Control of Capacitance System 6.1 Effect of Neural and Hormonal Stimulation 6.2 Baroreceptors 6.3 Chemoreceptors 6.4 Atrial, Ventricular, and Pulmonary Receptors 6.5 Receptor Interaction 6.6 Venous Myogenic Activity 6.7 Venoarteriolar Reflex 6.8 Effect of Temperature 6.9 Time Course of Reflex Response 6.10 Capacitance-Vessel Tone 7 Veins in Health and Disease 7.1 Exercise 7.2 Vasovagal Syncope 7.3 Orthostatic Hypotension 7.4 Shock 7.5 Hypertension 8 Methods of Measurement of Vascular Capacitance 8.1 Transmural Pressure of Capacitance Vessels 8.2 Volume of Capacitance Vessels 8.3 Measures of Total-Body Vascular Compliance and Capacitance 8.4 General Problems 9 Pharmacology of Veins 9.1 Anesthetics 9.2 Angiotensin 9.3 Catecholamines 9.4 Histamine 9.5 Morphine 9.6 Nitroprusside 9.7 Serotonin 9.8 Vasopressin 10 Future Research