Version July 2025
| Venous pulsations | Arterial pulsations | |
| Site of pulsations (under the mandible) | ||
| At the angle of the mandible | Likely (if jugular venous pressure is significantly elevated) | Unlikely |
| Characteristics of pulse | ||
| Movement | Soft, diffuse, and undulant | Discrete and robust |
| Number of pulsations | Two crests and two troughs* | Single |
| Effect of inspiration | Respirophasic | No change |
| Position of body | Higher in horizontal position and lower in vertical position | No significant change |
| Abdominal compression | May increase | No change |
| Compression below the pulsations¶ | Pulsations cease | Maintained |
* The venous pulse is recognized by its double undulation (a and v waves), frequently associated with relatively sharper inward movement (the x descent following the a wave and y descent following the v wave). A c wave on the downstroke of the x descent is also commonly identified on venous pressure tracings but is generally not discerned by physical examination.
¶ Some have found applying pressure 1 or 2 inches (or more) inferior to the pulsations in the neck to be the most useful approach for distinguishing jugular venous and carotid arterial pulsations.[1]