[The effect of head and body position on jugular vein blood flow]

The impact of body position on jugular venous flow was studied in 10, and the impact of head position in 33 healthy young volunteers using an ultrasonic Doppler flowmeter. Flow in the right internal jugular vein decreased by 40 +/- 21% with the individuals positioned on their left side. Turning of the head to the contralateral side reduced right internal jugular venous flow by 42 +/- 24% in 18 cases, whereas flow increased by 79 +/- 67% in 15. The respective values for the left internal jugular vein were 35 +/- 26% in 14, and 92 +/- 86% in 18 cases.