The key difference between arterial and venous bleeding is that arterial bleeding starts in the arteries that transport blood from the heart to other body parts, while venous bleeding starts in the veins that transport blood back to the heart from other body parts.
Bleeding is also called hemorrhaging. There are different types of bleeding, such as arterial, venous, and capillary bleeding. These bleeding types differ in location, the way blood flow in each case, and severity. For example, in arterial bleeding, the blood spurts out, and in venous bleeding, blood flows steadily, while in capillary bleeding, blood trickles from the body.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Arterial Bleeding
3. What is Venous Bleeding
4. Similarity – Arterial and Venous Bleeding
5. Arterial vs Venous Bleeding in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Arterial vs Venous Bleeding
What is Arterial Bleeding?
Arterial bleeding is a type of bleeding that occurs in the arteries, which transport blood from the heart to other body parts. In this type of bleeding, the blood spurts out from the body. Arterial bleeding is the most severe and urgent type of bleeding that needs to be treated immediately. It can be caused by a penetrating injury, blunt trauma, or damage to body organs or blood vessels. As blood comes from the arteries, it is very distinctive from the other types of bleeding. Moreover, peculiar characteristics of this type of bleeding include bright red blood (which is due to its oxygen content), blood coming out in spurts, and pulses that correlate to the beats of the heart. Arterial bleeding is hard to control because of the pressure given by the beating heart. Therefore, the blood will not clot easily.
Figure 01: Arterial and Venous Blood
Arterial bleeding can be a life-threatening condition, and prompt treatment is crucial. Treatment options include applying pressure to the wound using a sterile gauze or a latex-gloved hand, covering the wound with a sterile gauze dressing and bandage to continue applying pressure, and elevating the affected body part above the level of the heart. In cases of continuous bleeding, a tourniquet can be applied above the wound to stop the bleeding, and immediate medical attention should be sought.
What is Venous Bleeding?
Venous bleeding is a type of bleeding that occurs in the veins, which transport blood back to the heart from other body parts. In this type of bleeding, blood flows steadily from the body. Venous bleeding can be caused by wounds such as lacerations, punctures, and amputations. Characteristics of venous bleeding include blood that flows out in dark red or bluish in colour, blood oozing like a thick liquid and flowing very steadily out of the body. However, if the damaged venous is deep or large, the blood may be gushing out of the body.
To treat venous bleeding, several options are available. These include placing clean gauze or cloth, like a handkerchief, over the bleeding wound after wearing a pair of latex gloves, applying steady and firm pressure using fingers or palms for 5 minutes, and placing an additional cloth on top. If the bleeding continues for 10 minutes, firmer pressure over a larger area can be applied. If the bleeding is continuous, immediate medical attention should be sought.
What are the Similarities Between Arterial and Venous Bleeding?
- Arterial and venous bleeding are two different types of bleeding.
- Both types are life-threatening if not treated properly.
- Both types can be diagnosed through physical examination.
- They can be treated through the same procedures, such as applying pressure and covering the wound with gauze or bandages.
What is the Difference Between Arterial and Venous Bleeding?
Arterial bleeding starts in the arteries, which transport blood from the heart to other body parts, while venous bleeding starts in the veins, which transport blood back to the heart from other body parts. Thus, this is the key difference between arterial and venous bleeding. Furthermore, arterial bleeding is a more serious type of bleeding, while venous bleeding is a less serious type of bleeding.
The below infographic presents the differences between arterial and venous bleeding in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Arterial vs Venous Bleeding
Bleeding or hemorrhaging causes blood to flow out of the body. There are three main types of bleeding: arterial, venous, and capillary. In arterial bleeding, the blood comes out from the arteries, while in venous bleeding, blood comes out from the veins. These are life-threatening conditions if not managed properly. However, arterial bleeding is the most severe type of bleeding. Venous and capillary bleeding are less severe. So, this summarizes the difference between arterial and venous bleeding.
Reference:
1. “Types of Bleeding: Differences and How to Treat Them.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
2. Nunez, Kirsten. “Venous Bleeding Symptoms, First Aid, and Medical Treatment.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Arterial blood and venous blood model” By yui.kubo (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) via Flickr