Jugular venous pressure

• normal JVP is <9cm above RA (<4 cm above sternal angle)

Abnormalities of the Venous Waveforms

Waveform	Cardiac Condition
Absent a wave	Atrial fibrillation, sinus tachycardia
Flutter waves	Atrial flutter
Prominent a waves	First-degree atrioventricular block
Large a waves	Tricuspid stenosis, right atrial myxoma, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonic stenosis
Cannon a waves	Atrioventricular dissociation, ventricular tachycardia
Absent x descent	Tricuspid regurgitation
Prominent x descent	Conditions causing enlarged a waves
Large cv waves	Tricuspid regurgitation, constrictive percarditis
Slow y descent	Tricuspid stenosis, right atrial myxoma
Rapid y descent	Constrictive pericarditis, severe right heart failure, tricuspid regurgitation, atrial septal defect
Absent y descent	Cardiac tamponade

From University of Washington Advanced Physical Exam website.