If blood is red why do your veins look blue?

Question

What color is blood inside the body? If it is red then why do veins look blue?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

When blood is oxygenated in the lungs, it is red. This red, oxygenated blood is pumped by the heart through arteries to different parts of the body. You can't see these arteries, because they are deeper inside the body.

When blood gives up oxygen to the different parts of the body, it becomes blue. The veins take blood back to the heart and lungs. They are near the surface of the skin, so you can see them.

Source(s):

I am a medical doctor.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks, & Thanks All Answerers.

Answer 2

YOUR BLOOD WHEN ITS INSIDE IS BLUE WHEN IT ITS AIR IT TURNS RED

Answer 3

the blood is blue until its oxygenated

Source(s):

my infinite wisdom

Answer 4

oxygenated blood is red. de-oxygenated blood is blue.

Source(s):

http://www.seps.org/oracle/oracle.archiv…

Answer 5

Veins return deoxygenated blood to the lungs to be aerated. Without oxygen, the blood is blue.

Arteries send the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. The hemoglobin turns red in the presence of oxygen.

Notice when you cut yourself, you always bleed red, whether from capillary, vein or artery.

Just think of them as one-way streets.

Answer 6

when exposed to air the co2 will change colour.

Answer 7

the venous blood is dark red to violet because there is no oxygen in it.
we see veins as blue or green because we see them through the skin.
if you have the opportunity to open someone up you will see that the veins are actually colourless and you can see the true colour of blood.

Source(s):

i cant believe someone actually said blood turns red when it contacts the air!

Answer 8

When blood is in your body it is both blue and red. When the hemoglobin in blood is carrying oxygen and travelling away from the heart in arteries it looks red. When blood is not carrying oxygen it looks blue and travels towards the heart in viens. Veins are more superficial than arteries so they are more visible.

Answer 9

blood when the o2 is used up turns a blueish color. it happens when someone goes without oxygen their lips and fingernails turn a blueish color.

Answer 10

God, I hope none of these people are thinking about becoming doctors. I am not sure of the reason, but oxygen does have something to do with it, but blood is ALWAYS RED!!! Much to the dismay of the morons that have answered earlier. Did you ever see an operation performed with a scope? The scope enters the body, and all blood is red!!!

Answer 11

It's not red until it hits the air. Before, it's blue.

Answer 12

The charts & diagrams of -- not to mention this article itself -- answer your questions very nicely, don't you think?!

The Marvels of the Circulatory System
Look After Your Arteries!
http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2001/3/22/article_01.htm

Source(s):

http://www.watchtower.org/
Official Web Site of Jehovah's Witnesses

Answer 13

Your blood is blue inside you. the oxygen leaves it and turns it red.