Hypertensive (HTN) animal models demonstrate lower venous compliance as well as increased venous tone and responsiveness compared with normotensive (NTN) controls. However, the extent to which findings in experimental animals can be extended to humans is unknown. Forearm and calf venous compliance were quantified in 9 NTN (23±1 yr) and 9 HTN (24±1 yr) male subjects at baseline, after administration of nitroglycerin (NTG), during a cold pressor test (CP), and post-handgrip exercise ischemia (PEI). Individual pressure-volume relationships from a cuff deflation protocol (1mmHg per second) were modeled with a quadratic regression. Regression parameters ₁, and ₂ were used to calculate compliance. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the beta parameters and a repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare volumes across all pressures (between groups at baseline and within groups during perturbations). Limb venous compliance was similar between groups (Forearm: NTN ₁=0.11±0.01, ₂= -0.00097±0.0001, HTN ₁=0.10±0.01, ₂= -0.00088±0.0001; Calf: NTN ₁=0.12±0.01, ₂= -0.00102±0.0001, HTN ₁=0.11±0.01, ₂= -0.00090±0.0001). However, at baseline, volume across all pressures (i.e. capacitance) was lower in the forearm (p < 0.01) and tended to be lower in the calf (p = 0.08) in HTN subjects. Venous compliance was not altered by any perturbation in either group. Forearm volume was increased during NTG in HTN subjects only. While venous compliance was similar between NTN and HTN adults, HTN adults have lower forearm venous capacitance (volume) that is increased with NTG. These data suggest that young HTN adults may have augmented venous smooth muscle tone compared with NTN controls.