Venous valves

Phyiological valve systems of the veins, which are formed by the intima of medium-sized veins.

Unlike arteries, many small and medium-sized veins are equipped with venous valves.

No venous valves are found in the veins of the head and neck area, in the abdominal veins, in the veins of the vertebral canal and in the large veins close to the heart.

Venous valves ensure that the blood does not flow back down again, following gravity, when the muscle relaxes or when breathing in or out.

Thus, regular use of the foot and leg muscles, on the one hand, and the intact valve function of the venous valves, on the other hand, are of decisive importance for physiological, unidirectional, centripedal venous blood flow.

In the case of dilated veins(varicosis), the valve function of the veins is no longer or only insufficiently guaranteed. This results in valve insufficiency with bidirectional blood flow. Thus, the physiological, centripetally directed blood transport is disturbed. The blood "pools" in the position-dependent parts.

The hydrostatic pressure in the peripheral low pressure system of the veins (especially in the vessels of the lower part of the body) increases continuously depending on the position. The consequences are changes in the wall structure of the veins, edema formation and other signs of chronic venous insufficiency.

1. Ströbel P (2010) Anatomy and pathological anatomy of the epifascial venous system. In: T Noppeney, H Nüllen Diagnosis and therapy of varicosis. Springer Medicine Publishing House Heidelberg S 10 -31
2. Wagner A (2010) Physiology and pathophysiology of venous hemodynamics. In: T Noppeney, H Nüllen Diagnosis and Therapy of Varicosis. Springer Medicine Publishing House Heidelberg S 52 -60