Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

In Vitro Model of Physiological and Pathological Blood Flow with Application to Investigations of Vascular Cell Remodeling
Published on: November 3, 2015
Influence of raised venous pressure on the flow properties of blood
This study posed the question of whether the blood flow properties from the anticubital and ankle vein of healthy subjects varied under different hydrostatic conditions. The blood flow properties from the vena cubitalis and the ankle vein do not vary to any greater degree during lying, whereas during standing the blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, and plasma protein concentration increase significantly. Furthermore, they are significantly higher than in venous blood taken from the arm at the same time. The oxygen partial pressure in venous blood from the arm is significantly higher than in the ankle venous blood after 5 minutes of standing. These results show, among other things, that under the various hydrostatic conditions present in different body regions, the blood flow properties differ considerably. From the pathophysiologic point of view, it is important that during standing the return of blood is made even more difficult because of the increased blood viscosity resulting from fluid loss from the intravascular space to the interstitium.
This study posed the question of whether the blood flow properties from the anticubital and ankle vein of healthy subjects varied under different hydrostatic conditions. The blood flow properties from the vena cubitalis and the ankle vein do not vary to any greater degree during lying, whereas during standing the blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, and plasma protein concentration increase significantly. Furthermore, they are significantly higher than in venous blood taken from the arm at the same time. The oxygen partial pressure in venous blood from the arm is significantly higher than in the ankle venous blood after 5 minutes of standing. These results show, among other things, that under the various hydrostatic conditions present in different body regions, the blood flow properties differ considerably. From the pathophysiologic point of view, it is important that during standing the return of blood is made even more difficult because of the increased blood viscosity resulting from fluid loss from the intravascular space to the interstitium.
Related Concept Videos
Blood Flow
Veins as Blood Reservoirs
Vascular Resistance
The primary determinants of vascular resistance are vessel diameter, blood viscosity, and vessel length. Among these, vessel diameter plays the most significant role due to the fourth power relationship described by...
Venous Return
What is Venous Return?
Venous return refers to the rate at which blood flows back to the heart from the body's peripheral veins. It's an integral part of the circulatory system as it...
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction
Portal Hypertension

