One major difference between arterial blood and venous blood is their oxygen content. Arterial blood is oxygen-rich, having been recently oxygenated by the lungs, while venous blood has a lower oxygen concentration, as it has already delivered oxygen to the body's tissues and is returning to the lungs to be reoxygenated. In addition, arterial blood is redder due to its higher oxygen content, while venous blood has a darker, bluish hue.
Other differences between the two include the pH balance, carbon dioxide content, and nutrient concentrations. Arterial blood has a pH balance of 7.4, while venous blood is slightly more acidic, with a pH of 7.35. Arterial blood has a higher level of carbon dioxide than venous blood, while venous blood contains more nutrients, such as glucose and amino acids, that are released by tissues.
Overall, arterial blood and venous blood differ in their oxygen content, pH balance, carbon dioxide content, and nutrient concentrations.