ventricle contracts and shortens during the ejection phase, later in systole. The shortening heart—with tricuspid valve still closed—pulls on valve opens, the v peak begins to wane. The y minimum reflects a fall in right atrial pressure during rapid ventricular filling, as blood leaves the right atrium through an open tricuspid valve and enters the right ventricle. The increase in venous pressure after the y minimum occurs as venous return continues in the face of reduced ventricular filling. Diseases and Conditions The jugular vein is prominent in heart failure. They can look at the veins pulses to tell if the heart is keeping up with what the body needs, by looking at how the vein is pumping blood to estimate the central venous pressure. Even if the vein appears to be bulging that is visible which is called, distension, this is another sign of heart failure. This can also show cardiac tamponade, and coronary artery disease To examine the neck veins is to evaluate the atrial pressure and to estimate the intravascular volume. If venous pressure is high, the patient most likely has left or right ventricular failure or heart disease. Common symptoms of conditions that can affect the jugular vein are, ear problems, such as hearing loss and dizziness, eye problems, can cause blurry vision and swollen eyes, pain in the neck or headaches and even problems with sleeping due to the change of blood flow to the brain. Idiomatic expression The jugular vein is the subject of an idiom in the English language: "to go for the jugular" means to attack decisively at the weakest point in other words, to attack at the opportune juncture for a definitive resolution, or coup de grace. An alternate explanation for the phrase suggests "to go for the jugular" merely means to attack without restraint. The jugular vein system is essential but not particularly weak or vulnerable, because this venous system is generally found fairly deep in the body. See also Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency References Veins of the head and neck