Venous Resistance during External Pressure and/or Venous Stasis during Reactive Hyperaemia in Human Calf

The relation between blood pressure and blood flow was studied in the human calf during reactive hyperaemia by using strain gauge plethysmography. The perfusion pressure was decreased by applying either external pressure or venous stasis. External pressure resulted in a greater reduction in the blood flow than the corresponding level of venous stasis. The blood flow during external pressure increased if a venous stasis greater than the external pressure applied was added. Since the arteriolar tonus was abolished, these results are considered to be dependent upon differences in the venous resistance during external pressure and venous stasis.