UNDERSTANDING THE VENOUS SYSTEM |  Venous system
Foot pump action |
The venous system |
The veins carry the blood back to the heart and lungs. Its bluish color is due to the low oxygen content.
When standing, more than half of the venous blood is in our legs. The blood transit from the legs to the heart has to overcome gravity. This requires the action of a pump, which is mainly achieved by the foot and ankle movement. During each step, the muscles compress the veins located inside the calf muscle thereby allowing the venous blood to rush back to the heart.
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The venous blood return |  Muscle action on the veins
Healthy veins and valves
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In healthy individuals, venous blood flows mainly from the superficial veins (located just under the skin) to the deep veins through the muscles. Once in the deep veins, the blood moves up to the heart and the lungs to be re-oxygenated.
In order to direct the blood flow from the foot to the upper leg, and to prevent it from falling back, the leg veins have thin valves that work as a lock system. Thus, they play a major role in the blood return. Defective valves are mainly responsible for the development of venous disease.
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