Evaluation of the neck veins.
In spite of numerous technical advances in cardiovascular diagnosis, the bases for determination of the need for diagnostic tests and therapy and for evaluation of the response to therapy often remain the history and bedside physical findings. The complete cardiovascular examination includes evaluation of the arterial pulsations, the precordial pulsations, and cardiac auscultation. The correct interpretation of the jugular venous pulse is an integral part of the examination. The jugular venous pulsations reflect the systolic and diastolic hemodynamics of the right atrium and, in the absence of obstruction of the tricuspid valve, of the right ventricle as well. When correctly interpreted, the jugular venous pulsations provide information about right ventricular hemodynamics and important clues to the diagnosis. Instead of trying to find the classically described A and V waves in normal people, one should look for the systolic collapse of the normal jugular venous pulse. When one is thoroughly familiar with the normal variations, the few common abnormalities are easy to appreciate.
D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006326:Heart Auscultation; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply*; D010808:Physical Examination; D011187:Posture; D011674:Pulse; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology