height

Last reviewed 01/2018

The height of the JVP is expressed as the vertical distance from the manubriosternal angle to the maximum height of pulsations in the internal jugular vein with the patient semi-recumbent at an angle of 45 degrees.

It is normally less than 3 cm. This equates to a right atrial pressure of 8 cm of water as in this position, the manubriosternal angle is about 5 cm above the centre of the right atrium.