Question

describe how the skeletal muscle pump works.

Answer 1

Skeletal muscle pump is the collection of skeletal muscles that help the heart in the circulation of blood.It shows its major function in increasing venous return.
Peripheral veins,mainly in arms and legs,have a one way valve which is used for flow only towards heart.Veins are loacted within muscles,so when muscle contract,they undergo deep compression and they are decompressed when muscle system relaxes.This compression and decompression is what is pumping.
During muscle contraction,distal valves remains open and proximal valves are closed.When muscles are relaxed,proximal valves remain open,blood flow and fills the venous segment...
In the beginning,distal valves are closed,but as the volume and pressure in the segment increase,distal valves remain open.
Hence we can say,the mechanism of pumping,ie,both compression and decompression will lead to an increased venous return.
Venous valves are unidirectional which assure the proper flow of blood only to heart.