What distinguishes arterial blood from other types of blood?

Arterial blood is distinguished from other types of blood primarily by its characteristic of spurting from a wound. This spurting occurs with each heartbeat, as arterial blood is under higher pressure due to being pumped directly from the heart through the arteries. This pressure causes the blood to shoot out rhythmically, aligning with the beats of the heart.

In contrast, venous blood, which comes from veins, typically flows more steadily and does not spurt because it is at a lower pressure compared to arterial blood. Capillary bleeding, another type, tends to ooze slowly since it originates from the smallest blood vessels. The color of arterial blood is also a bright red due to its high oxygen content, while venous blood is darker, appearing maroon or dark red due to lower oxygen levels. Understanding these differences is crucial in first aid situations, as they can guide appropriate response actions and inform the severity of the injury.