One of the most interesting phenomena in the venous circulatory system is the vein pump mechanism in the legs. The veins in this area are surrounded by the calf muscle, which periodically deforms the vein walls and squeezes blood out of the section. Venous valves prevent the blood

from backflow. A measuring rig was designed to model and measure the periodic pulsation of the veins. The device contains a chamber containing a collapsible tube. In this paper the diameter of the tube was examined under periodically varying chamber pressure. Pictures were taken of the viscoelastic tube during the pulsation. The diameter as a function of time is calculated and compared with the pressure-time series. Also the operation of the check valves of the measuring rig is observed. The results are presented and discussed.

DOI: 10.17489/biohun/2010/2/03