Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
Main DifferenceThe main difference between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood is that oxygenated blood is arterial blood whereas deoxygenated blood is venous blood.

Difference Between Oxygenated Blood and Deoxygenated Blood
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
Oxygenated blood is also called arterial blood whereas deoxygenated blood is also called venous blood.
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
In oxygenated blood, the oxygen concentration is high whereas, in deoxygenated blood, the oxygen concentration is low.
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
In oxygenated blood, carbon dioxide concentration is low whereas, in deoxygenated blood, carbon dioxide concentration is high
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
Oxygenated blood is bright red in color whereas deoxygenated blood is blackish red.
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
Oxygenated blood flows away from the heart whereas deoxygenated blood flows towards the heart.
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
Driving force for the oxygenated blood is pumping pressure of the heart whereas driving force for the deoxygenated blood is a muscular contraction.
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
The oxygenated blood moves through the pulmonary vein and systemic arteries whereas deoxygenated blood flows through the pulmonary artery and systemic vein.
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
Regular pressure of oxygenated blood is 120/80 mmHg whereas regular pressure of deoxygenated blood is 5 to 8 mmHg.
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
The temperature of oxygenated blood is 37°C whereas the temperature of deoxygenated blood is low.
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
The pH of oxygenated blood is 7.40 whereas pH of deoxygenated blood is low as compared to oxygenated blood.
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
Main function of oxygenated blood is to supply oxygen to the metabolizing tissues whereas main function of deoxygenated blood is to carry carbon dioxide to the lungs.
Comparison Chart
Oxygenated Blood | Deoxygenated Blood |
Oxygenated blood is defined as the blood that has been exposed to oxygen in the lungs. | Deoxygenated blood is defined as the blood that has a low oxygen saturation relative to blood leaving the lungs. |
Site | |
Pulmonary veins and arteries | Venous system and systemic veins |
Color | |
Bright Red | Dark Red |
Other Name | |
Arterial blood | Venous blood |
Oxygen Quantity | |
High | Low |
CO2 Quantity | |
Low | High |
Pressure | |
120/80 mmHg | 5-8 mmHg |
Temperature | |
37°C | Low |
pH | |
7.40 | 7.3 |
Driving Force | |
Pumping pressure of the heart | Muscular contraction |
Components | |
Oxygen, amino acids, glucose, vitamins | HCO3, metabolic waste (urea) |
Function | |
Supply blood to the metabolizing tissues | Carry carbon dioxide to the lungs |
Oxygenated Blood vs. Deoxygenated Blood
Oxygenated blood passes back to the heart in the left upper chamber called atria. Then it is pumped into the left lower chamber is known as ventricle and then into the aorta which is an artery. This blood starts its journey around the body again. Oxygenated blood saturated with carbon dioxide travels to the right upper atrium. The blood is squashed down into the right lower chamber which is known as ventricle and taken by an artery into the lungs where oxygen takes the place of carbon dioxide.
In oxygenated blood, oxygen is carried within RBCs by hemoglobin which can bind with four oxygen molecules and forms oxyhemoglobin. When oxygenated blood reaches the tissues, oxyhemoglobin supply oxygen to the tissue. In deoxygenated blood, carbon dioxide combines with hemoglobin to create deoxyhemoglobin.
What is Oxygenated Blood?
Oxygenated blood refers to the blood that takes oxygen in the lungs. The blood flows to the lungs to carry atmospheric oxygen by hemoglobin in the red blood cells. Then it flows to the left chamber of the heart from the lungs through the pulmonary vein. Hence, most of the hemoglobin in this blood is bound to oxygen; the oxygenated blood is bright red. It shows a purple color through the skin.
The system through which oxygenated travels in the body is called pulmonary circulation. The pulmonary circulation is the part of the circulatory system which carries deoxygenated blood away from the right ventricle chamber of the heart to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the left atria and ventricle of the heart. The vessels of the pulmonary system are called pulmonary arteries and the pulmonary veins. The partial pressure of the O2 in the oxygenated blood is about 100 mmHg. The oxygenated blood is in abundance in oxygen as well as other nutrients such as amino acids, glucose, and vitamins. It travels from the heart to the metabolizing tissues throughout the body to stock oxygen and nutritional ingredients to the cells. Oxygenated blood travels through the systemic arteries in the body. Oxygenated blood is mainly used to measure the acidity, oxygen concentration, and carbon dioxide amount in the blood. This test is called the arterial blood gas test. It is used to assess the efficiency of the lungs to removes carbon dioxide from the blood and to take oxygen into the blood.
What is Deoxygenated Blood?
Deoxygenated blood is the blood that has low oxygen saturation when compared to the blood leaving the lungs. Oxygenated blood which travels from the peripheral vessels through the venous system into the right atria of the heart. Deoxygenated blood is then forced to pump by the right ventricle to the lungs through the pulmonary artery which is separated into two branches left and right to the left and right lungs respectively. Deoxygenated blood becomes oxygenated in the lungs and returns to the left atrium through the pulmonary veins.
The tissues of the body take the oxygen from the oxygenated blood and return carbon dioxide which is a metabolic waste. Thus, the blood that moves out from the tissues has a low partial pressure of oxygen and high partial pressure of carbon dioxide. The blood flows from the systemic vein to the right atria of the heart and then flows to the lungs from the right chamber (ventricle) to the lungs through the pulmonary artery. Deoxygenated blood has fewer amounts of nutrients when compared to oxygenated blood. But it is rich in metabolic wastes such as urea in addition to carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide combines with hemoglobin to forms deoxyhemoglobin. This blood in veins is used in routine tests. The direct puncture of a vein can collect it by a venipuncture or finger prick.
ConclusionIt has concluded that oxygenated and deoxygenated both type of blood is part of circulation bur difference is that oxygenated blood carries oxygen and deoxygenated blood carries carbon dioxide.