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Blood in the arteries is bright red, blood in the veins is dark red mostly from the impurities that are being carried back to the kidneys and liver for disposal that are mixed in and brownish which darkens the red color to more maroon. Blood in veins can look "blue" when viewed through the skin because of light refraction and other factors. But the blood is red and the veins are actually white.
When a person donates blood, it comes from a vein, not an artery. It is also not exposed to air, or it would be contaminated and need to be disposed of. It also happens to be dark red, NOT blue.
The common misconception of "blue" blood is continued due to textbook illustrators use of blue and red to differentiate arteries and veins. Venous blood is actually a burgundy or maroon color.
An Optical Illusion
The reason we see blue is more into the optics side of science. It is really because of how light reflects on our skin, and the way different wavelengths piece through our skin with different effectiveness.
The veins you see through your skin appear blue because red light goes through the skin much more easily (and thus more) than blue light. The red light is absorbed, and the blue is reflected. Optical scientists also believe that the eyes see more of the blue color than the red.
A vein is just a tube blood travels through when returning to the heart and lungs after depleted of nutrients and oxygen, the neutral color of a vein itself doesn't change the color of the blood.
It is not the blood but the veins that "look" blue, and even then it is not the actual color of the vessel. The difference is in the way colored light moves through the tissues, and how the eye perceives those colors of light.
The oxidation state of the iron in the hemoglobin also affects the color but only slightly and not as much as the wastes carried in the veins do.
Some factor of the changes in blood coloration do relate to the respiratory pigment, hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a topologically complex molecule that very readily binds to oxygen. Once the molecule is fully saturated, it reflects in the crimson red spectrum, and therefore fully oxygenated blood appears to be bright red. After the hemoglobin molecule gives up its oxygen to tissue that needs it, the molecule becomes much less reflective, and with the added wastes the venous blood carries, the returning blood appears very dark red to purple. However, it is more the addition of wastes that impacts the darkened color, not so much the change in oxygen content.
As mentioned above, blue is often used in illustrations in charts and diagrams of the circulatory system and vessels to contrast against red, with usually red representing the arterial system bearing O2 and blue being the "deoxygenated" blood in the venous system. However, this tradition of using these colors is just that: tradition. It is not based on actual blood color. The colors could just as easily be shown as yellow or green for the purposes of the illustrations to show blood flow.
The reason why only veins appear blue to your eye is because they are the most superficial to the skin and therefore seen through the skin. Arteries can not be seen because of how deep they are in the body (a protective mechanism of our bodies). The color blue/violet is the highest frequency of the visible light scale; it therefore has the most penetrating power to be seen through skin, fat, etc. Red is low frequency and is filtered out by skin and fat, which is why it cannot be seen.
Science Project: If you took a red diode light and put it in milk, it would appear blue in color because milk filters the red out much like our fat/skin. Try it and see!
What else can I help you with?
What color will your skin turn without oxygen?
your blood is blue but as the blood reaches the surface of your skin it is red. hope this helps. Ayraayra: Your skin will turn a bluish-purplish color.
Why does one's face turn blue after a heart failure?
A condition called cyanosis sets in when there is no oxygen in the blood, it is characterized by a blue tinge to the skin
Why does the skin turn blue when there is inadequate blood flow?
Blood that is low is oxygen is slightly bluish and so it tints the skin the same. People often say that blood without oxygen is blue but that isn't true. Pictures in textbooks show arteries as red and veins as blue but that is just to show you exactly the way they run and where they are.
Why does a baby's face turn blue when they cry?
When a baby cries, their face may turn blue because they are not breathing properly. This can happen when they cry too hard and do not take in enough oxygen. The lack of oxygen causes their skin to appear blue, a condition known as cyanosis. It is important to monitor a baby's breathing and seek medical attention if their face turns blue when crying.
Why does blood turn to blue color?
Blood only appears blue when viewed through the skin because of the way light interacts with it. Oxygen-rich blood is bright red and oxygen-poor blood is a darker red color. The blue hue seen under the skin is due to light absorption and scattering, not the actual color of the blood.
Can amiodarone turn skin blue?
Skin discoloration can be a side effect of amiodarone.
What color does sulfur turn a flame with oxygen?
Sulfur burns with a blue flame when it reacts with oxygen.
When tissues and organs are deprived of oxygen what color will they turn?
BLUE
Why does a lung patients palms turn blue?
Lung patients' palms turn blue because they are not getting enough oxygen to their extremities. The vital organs are prioritized in the distribution of limited oxygen.
What is the medical condition known as cyanosis, which is characterized by a blue discoloration of the skin due to insufficient oxygen levels in the blood?
Cyanosis is a medical condition where the skin turns blue due to low oxygen levels in the blood.
When does skin turn blue on death?
Well, honey, when someone kicks the bucket, their blood stops circulating and oxygen levels drop, causing the skin to lose its rosy hue and turn a lovely shade of blue. This discoloration, known as livor mortis, typically starts to show up within 20-30 minutes after death and can become more pronounced over the next few hours. So, there you have it - blue is the new black when it comes to postmortem fashion.
Can you turn blue if you drank too much blue juice?
No, consuming blue food coloring or blue juices in moderation will not turn your skin blue. However, excessive consumption of certain medications or chemicals containing silver can lead to a condition called argyria, which can give the skin a bluish tint.
