What is fundamentally different about the respiratory pump compared to the cardiac pump, and why does this difference exist?
(please don't respond that the heart pumps blood and the lungs exchange gas, i don't think that's what they're looking for)
Respiratory pump affects venous return through changes in right atrial pressure, which is an important component of the pressure gradient for venous return.
During inspiration, venous return increases as the pressure in the thoracic cavity becomes more negative. This reduced intrathoracic pressure draws more blood into the right atrium.
Respiratory pump thus helps in venous return by creating negative pressure gradient in the thoracic region.
Cardiac pump creates postive pressure gradient that pushes the blood towards periphery.
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