The following demonstration of a normal variant of the jugular venous wave form is presented through the courtesy of Dr. Gordon A. Ewy and was carried out at the University of Arizona.

This is a normal jugular venous wave pulse. Notice that the major motion here is not two outward motions - the "a" wave and the "v" wave, but rather a collapse, a systolic collapse that is the "x" descent. There is a little after bounce, which is the "v" wave and then the gradual increase, which is the "h" wave that melts into the "a" wave and then you have the dominant "x" descent that occurs in systole.

I am going to put my finger on her opposite carotid and tell you when I feel the carotid pulse. Now... now... now now... now... now... now... now... now... now... and during systole the major motion is the collapse of the vein.