Difference Between Arterial and Venous Blood

Arterial vs Venous Blood

Although these terms may sound a little familiar, the particulars are not commonly known. Therefore, the importance of bringing up the particular properties of venous and arterial blood would make more sense in understanding those. This article will not only discuss the properties, but also emphasize the differences between them. The common perception is that arterial blood is more important as it carries oxygen and nutrients to the body systems, but venous blood is also very important as it has plenty of empty vehicles to carry those important constituents for the body.

Arterial Blood

Arterial blood is the blood that runs through arteries, starting from the left chamber of the heart and lungs. Usually, it is oxygenated and bright red in colour therefore. However, pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. The oxygenation takes place in lungs, travels to the heart through pulmonary veins, goes into left cardiac chambers, and pumped through the arterial system into body organ systems. Because of the pumping pressure generated in the heart, arterial blood travels with a very high pressure. Therefore, during an arterial bleeding, blood spouts unevenly due to the high pressure. Arterial blood irrigates the tissues with oxygen and nutrients, as it is rich with those constituents. However, it lacks carbon dioxide, urea, and other waste products of the body.

Venous Blood

Venous blood moves through veins of the circularity system. Veins take blood into the heart from the body organs. Usually, it is dark maroon in colour because of the deoxygenated blood. However, the pulmonary veins carry oxygen rich blood from the lungs to the heart. The deoxygenated blood from the body organs are collected into veins, brought into the right chambers of the heart by anterior and posterior venacava, and pumped from there through pulmonary arteries to the lungs for oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide. Venous blood is rich in carbon dioxide but lacks oxygen. It is not a pressurized movement for venous blood, but under low pressure. Because of that, the bleeding is even from a venous wound, without flushing. Venous blood has low concentrations of glucose and other nutrients, and is rich in urea, carbon dioxide, and other waste products. However, the highest concentration of glucose and other nutrients is present in one of the special veins known as hepatic portal vein. Nevertheless, the hepatic portal vein is not a true vein as it does not originate from the heart.