Physiological venous pulse (p. venosus physiologicus) is a weak rhythmic oscillation of the walls of the veins, synchronous with heart contractions. They arise due to the propagation of a pulse wave from the arteries through the capillaries into the veins.
Normally, the venous pulse is not determined by palpation, but can be recorded using special methods, for example, during ultrasound examination of the veins. The venous pulse is due to the fact that during the systole of the ventricles of the heart, the veins passively stretch under the pressure of the blood entering them. During diastole, the pressure in the veins decreases slightly, which leads to their slight collapse.
Thus, the physiological venous pulse represents weak rhythmic oscillations of the walls of the veins, resulting from the propagation of a pulse wave from the arteries. It is not determined during a routine examination, but can be recorded using special methods.