The key difference between arterial and venous pulsation is that arterial pulsation occurs when the pressure waves move across arteries, while venous pulsation occurs when the pressure waves move through the veins.
Pulse is defined as the transfer of pressure waves inside blood vessels. This process is called pulsation since it results in rhythmic throbbing or vibrating. Arterial and venous pulsation are two different types of pulsations. Moreover, carotid pulse is an arterial pulsation, whereas jugular vein pulsation is a venous pulsation. Furthermore, abnormal pulsations may indicate different cardiovascular diseases and other diseases.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Arterial Pulsation
3. What is Venous Pulsation
4. Similarities – Arterial and Venous Pulsation
5. Arterial vs. Venous Pulsation in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Arterial vs. Venous Pulsation
What is Arterial Pulsation?
Arterial pulsation is caused by the ejection of blood from the left ventricle into the aorta and large arteries. It occurs when the pressure waves move across arteries. Arterial pulse in arterial pulsation has a single peak in the cardiac cycle. It is quick and sharp. Arterial pulse also has a more sudden outward force.
Figure 01: Pulse Sites
A carotid pulse is an arterial pulse. It is a pressure signal that is acquired over the carotid artery as this pressure signal passes near the surface of the body at the neck. The carotid arteries play a crucial role within the human body by carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to the brain. The carotid artery is one of the major arteries that branch off from the aorta. This pulse from carotids can be felt or assessed on either side of the front of the neck just below the jaw angle. A pulse volume recording, or PVR test, can be used to measure arterial pulsation.
What is Venous Pulsation?
Venous pulsation occurs due to fluctuations in blood volume within veins, influenced by the different phases of the cardiac cycle. It occurs when the pressure waves move through the veins.
Figure 02: Jugular Venous Pulse
Venous pulse can usually be seen in large veins that are located near the heart. Moreover, it is possible to record venous pulsation by using the jugular phlebogram and hepatojugular reflux test. The venous pulsation is a double waveform pulse. In addition, venous pulsation is not easily palpable.
What are the Similarities Between Arterial and Venous Pulsation?
- Arterial and venous pulsation are two different types of pulsations.
- Both are very important for the anatomical function of the human body.
- Both pulsations can be assessed by using different diagnostic tests.
- Changes in both pulsations are associated with cardiovascular and other diseases.
What is the Difference Between Arterial and Venous Pulsation?
Arterial pulsation occurs when pressure waves move across arteries, while venous pulsation occurs when pressure waves move through veins. Thus, this is the key difference between arterial and venous pulsation. Furthermore, the carotid pulse is an example of arterial pulsation, whereas jugular vein pulsation is an example of venous pulsation. Moreover, arterial pulse has one peak, while venous pulsation has two peaks per cardiac cycle.
The infographic below presents the differences between arterial and venous pulsation in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Arterial vs. Venous Pulsation
The act of rhythmically beating or throbbing is known as pulsation. A beat or throb is called the pulse. Arterial and venous pulsation are two different types of pulsations. Arterial pulse occurs when the pressure waves move across arteries, while venous pulsation occurs when pressure waves move through veins. So, this summarizes the difference between arterial and venous pulsation.
Reference:
1. “What Are the Factors to Distinguish the Jugular Venous from the Carotid Arterial Pulse?” Oxford Medical Education.
2. “The Arterial Pulse.” Health Care Sciences. Wayne State University.
Image Courtesy:
1. “2110 Pulse Sites” By OpenStax College – Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site, Jun 19, 2013. (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Jugular Venous Pulse” By Ecgtocardiology – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia