Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts
                                    Richard E. Klabunde, Ph.D.

Central Venous Pressure

Venous pressure is a term that represents the average blood pressure within the venous compartment. The term "central venous pressure" (CVP) describes the pressure in the thoracic vena cava near the right atrium (therefore CVP and right atrial pressure are essentially the same). CVP is an important concept in clinical cardiology because it is a major determinant of the filling pressure and therefore the preload of the right ventricle, which regulates stroke volume through the Frank-Starling mechanism.

A change in CVP (DCVP) is determined by the change in volume (DV) of blood within the thoracic veins divided by the compliance (Cv) of the these veins according to the following equation:

DCVP = DV / Cv

Therefore, CVP is increased by either an increase in venous blood volume or by a decrease in venous compliance.  The latter change can be caused by contraction of the smooth muscle within the veins, which increases the venous vascular tone and decreases compliance.  The effects of increased venous blood volume and decreased venous compliance on CVP are illustrated in the figure to the right. In this figure, point A represents a control operating point for the venous vasculature. The curve that point A is on is the compliance curve for the thoracic veins. If the volume of blood within these veins is increased, then the operating point will shift up and to the right (from A to B) along the same compliance curve. This will lead to an increase in pressure that is determined by the change in volume and the venous compliance (slope of the curve). CVP will also be increased if venous smooth muscle contraction is enhanced (e.g., by sympathetic nerve stimulation). When this occurs, the venous compliance decreases (dashed red line), and the new operating point C will reflect a smaller venous volume but at a greater venous pressure.

It is important to note for a proper conceptual understanding that the compliance of the large thoracic veins (especially the vena cava) does not undergo large changes.  Instead, the major site for venous compliance changes is smaller veins located outside of the thorax. These smaller veins are can undergo significant compliance changes. When the compliance of these veins decreases (e.g., by sympathetic nerve stimulation), constriction of these veins and the resulting increased pressure is transmitted up to the thoracic veins, which increases their volume and therefore pressure.

In the body, venous compliance and venous volume are not static, but dynamic, with many factors influences these two variables, such as cardiac output, respiratory activity, contraction of skeletal muscles (particularly legs and abdomen), sympathetic vasoconstrictor tone, and hydrostatic forces (i.e., gravity). Venodilator drugs, which are often used in the treatment of acute heart failure and angina, relax venous vessels (increase their compliance) and thereby lower central venous pressure. All of the above factors influence central venous pressure by either changing thoracic venous blood volume or venous compliance. These factors or mechanisms are summarized in the following table:  

Factors Increasing Central Venous Pressure

• A decrease in cardiac output either due to decreased heart rate or loss of inotropy (e.g., in ventricular failure) results in blood backing up into the venous circulation (increased venous volume) as less blood is pumped into the arterial circulation.  The resultant increase in thoracic blood volume increases CVP.  

• An increase in total blood volume as occurs in renal failure or with activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system increases venous pressure.  

• Venous constriction caused by sympathetic activation of veins, or by circulating vasoconstrictor substances (e.g., catecholamines, angiotensin II) decreases venous compliance, which increases CVP.  

• A shift in blood volume into the thoracic venous compartment that occurs when a person changes from standing to supine position increases CVP.  

• Arterial dilation as occurs during withdrawal of sympathetic tone or with arterial vasodilator drugs causes increased blood flow from the arterial into the venous compartments. This increases venous blood volume and CVP.  This is what occurs when the heart is functioning normally.  It is important to note, however, that arterial dilation in ventricular failure leads to a decrease in CVP instead of an increase.  This occurs because the arterial dilation decreases afterload on the ventricle leading to an increase in stroke volume.  Ventricular stroke volume is more strongly influenced by afterload when the ventricular is in failure than when it has normal function.  

• CVP is also increased during a force expiration, particularly against a high resistance (as occurs with a Valsalva maneuver) due to external compression of the thoracic vena cava as intrapleural pressure rises.  

• Muscle contraction, particularly of the limbs and abdomen, compresses the veins (i.e., decreases compliance) and also forces blood into the thoracic compartment.  

DISCLAIMER: These materials are for educational purposes only, and are not a source of medical decision-making advice.

© 1999-2007 Richard E. Klabunde, all rights reserved.