ABSTRACT
Clinical evaluation of patients with vascular disease requires a thorough understanding of the anatomy and hemodynamics of the arterial, venous, and lymphatic circulations. The continued improvement of noninvasive ultrasound techniques that produce high-resolution vascular imaging and depict system hemodynamics has resulted in improved understanding of arterial and venous disease pathophysiology, and has better defined the physiologic significance of anatomic disease. The ability to monitor the hemodynamics of arterial and venous flow and vessel anatomy serially has allowed detection of disease progression, resulting in a more cost-effective and timely intervention. In this chapter, the functional anatomy and hemodynamics of the arterial, venous, and lymphatic components of the circulatory system will be discussed. Special emphasis will be placed on how the biophysical properties of the circulation (e.g., pressure, flow velocity, and turbulence) can be measured in man, and how such measurements are used in the evaluation of patients with vascular disease. The discussion will focus primarily on the principles of arterial, venous, and lymphatic flow in the lower extremity; however, the concepts are equally germane and applicable to the upper extremity and cerebrovascular circulation.
