Liver Venous Pulsation

Liver pulsation (Latin pulsio - pressure) - rhythmic, strong contractions of the dilated veins of the liver during breathing. The term “pulsation” was introduced in 1896 by the famous Russian surgeon A. A. Kozhevnikov to characterize the hepatic veins flowing into the vena cava described by Billroth and Leuven. Soon, pulsation began to be called the expansion and contraction of not only the vein, but also all the livers and bile ducts during breathing, reminiscent of the contraction of the large intestine under the influence of mechanical irritation of its surface with a finger. These contractions are extremely important, as they promote the expulsion of blood from the portal system, prevent overflow of the vessels of the hepatic-gastric system and prevent fluid stagnation (ascites) in the abdominal cavity. The cause of liver pulsation is the contraction of the venous vessels passing between the segments of the liver. It is with the contraction of these vessels that the release of the liver from blood under pressure begins.

During physical work, as well as during fasting or experiencing strong emotions, the heart pumps blood into the body more intensely. And with increased nutrition or an increase in the amount of blood in the arterial bed, due to its expansion, large veins expanding throughout the liver occur. This leads to a change in the volume of the latter and a sharp increase in their fluctuations. Experts called this phenomenon a pulse, that is, pulsation, of the liver. With a decrease in vascular resistance, the lumen of the veins increases and venous pressure decreases, which is accompanied by the repeated return of blood using gravity through relaxed veins and vessels. However, contractions of the veins create conditions for better blood flow through the liver. When the veins dilate, conditions are created for very rapid passage of blood through these vessels. The veins of the liver, unlike the arteries, constantly pulsate. When you inhale, all the veins expand, and the pulse wave passes from the left calf vein to the inferior vena cava, then goes through the portal vein system to the veins of the liver and back, i.e. With each heartbeat, the veins sharply contract and expand. With each inhalation, a pulsar is observed from the left great thoracic vein.