HOW DOES VENOUS RETURN OF THE LEGS WORK?
Unlike arterial blood that is pushed by the heart towards peripheral areas of the entire body, venous blood must return to the heart without a driving or pushing force similar to the cardiac muscle.
Several mechanisms are thought to play a role to push blood up from the feet to the heart, even against gravity.
1. Plantar pad
It is a venous network composed of 2 to 3 layers, situated in the sole of the feet that is squeezed with every step we take.
2. Muscle pump of the leg
As they contract on stride, the calf muscles or gastrocnemius muscles push the blood contained in the vessels upwards towards the heart.
3. Aspirative effect of negative thoracic pressure
During respiratory movements, there is resulting negative pressure in the thorax which exerts an aspirative effect of the blood contained in venous vessels.