venous pressure, the blood pressure in the veins. It is elevated in congestive heart failure, acute or chronic constrictive pericarditis, and venous obstruction caused by a clot or external pressure against a vein. Indications of increased venous pressure are continued distension of veins on the back of the hand when it is raised above the sternal notch and distension of the neck veins when the individual is sitting with the head elevated 30 to 45 degrees.
