HEALTH

Why my veins are blue veins and green veins?

What color are the veins? We see blue veins and green veins on our skin, and they are filled with red blood. But neither blue nor the green is the true color of our veins. They appear blue through the skin by a simple optical effect due to the wavelengths of the different colors. Our skin reflects more red light than blue and green. This reflection is stronger around the veins, making them appear a darker hue that our eyes interpret as blue veins and green veins.

Did you know that 7,200 liters of blood pass through our bodies?

 It is estimated that if we put all the blood vessels of our body aligned, constituting a single linear structure (arteries, veins, and capillaries), the resulting conduit would go around the Earth more than twice (more than 100,000 km). 

Why are my veins blue veins and green veins?

Our veins have a deep red color. But that’s not its real color either. In reality, these are structures of a whitish color. Think of the small veins that sometimes appear on a beef filet, and you will understand what our veins are like if we could see them empty. It is blood circulating at a good pace throughout our body.

One also notices that some people are more marked, or their veins are more visible under the skin. This happens because of the different types of skin and also because of its thinness. The thinner the skin, the more the veins will show.

The color is due to an optical effect.

Why do we see blue veins or green veins? What does the color of the veins mean? These are some questions that jump into our minds and make a lot of sense. A study has revealed an explanation for why veins look blue or green, and here we share it with you.

What does the color of the veins mean?

Blood is living tissue made up of liquids and solids. The liquid part, called plasma, contains water, salts, and proteins. More than half of the body is plasma. The solid part of the blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Venous and partially deoxygenated blood turns a dark red color. Arterial and oxygenated blood has a bright red color.

What does the color blue mean in circulation?

Veins are blue due to an optical effect produced by the skin. This happens when the veins are located 0.5 millimeters below the epidermis. The white light formed by all the colors penetrates deeply and produces that bluish effect.

Why do veins look green?

The green color or blue color of the veins looks like this because the blood has less oxygen.

What if you have blue veins?

There is no danger. The fact that the red veins are not seen and appear blue or green is due to the chromatic induction called “simultaneous contrast,” which leads to a high degree of contrast between the two colors.

What do the red and blue veins mean?

The wall of the veins usually looks bluish or green. The thinner the skin and the less fat, the more bluish or green it will look.

 What is the color of blood inside the body?

The red color of the blood is due to the hemoglobin in the erythrocytes. This color can vary depending on the circumstances: it is sometimes seen as a more vivid red and, in others, darker.

Why are veins visible on the skin?

Telangiectasias known as “spider veins” are more common on the face, neck, chest, and arms and in fair-skinned people. Telangiectasias are capillaries or small veins that dilate and become visible on the skin, most often on the face, neck, décolletage, and arms.

What if the blood is very dark?

This is because the blood has reacted with oxygen, and most of the water in the blood will have evaporated, making a more concentrated pigmentation.

How are veins formed?

A healthy vein is firm but not rigid at the same time and is made up of three layers: intima, media, and adventitial.

Intima: it is the inner layer, the one that is in contact with the blood. It contains several cells that interact with the blood to prevent coagulation. The Endothelium belongs to this layer, and the endothelial cells are in direct contact with the blood flow.

Middle layer: as its name indicates, it is located in the middle of the other two layers. It is muscular and can contract. It occurs involuntarily. For example, when it is cold, they contract, and the blood goes through the deepest veins so as not to lose its heat.

Adventitia: is the outermost layer, and the nervous stimuli move through there.

What are the veins we see?

The venous system is divided into two: the deep and the superficial.

The deep venous system: is in charge of transporting the largest amount of venous blood since it exceeds 90% of the total. These veins are attached to the muscles, which compress and are responsible for returning the blood to the heart.

Superficial venous systems: they are the ones we can see and feel. They carry between 5 and 10% of the volume of venous return.

Final Thoughts:

Our veins are a fundamental part of our body by transporting blood through them. Those blue paths (which are not blue) that we usually observe when we have to carry out a medical study and blood needs to be drawn are essential for the functioning of our body.

Therefore, at USA Vein Clinics, we are here to help you understand why we see blue and green when they are not, and a number of characteristics of veins that are useful to identify. Request an appointment today. 

Michael Caine

Michael Caine is the Owner of Amir Articles and also the founder of ANO Digital (Most Powerful Online Content Creator Company), from the USA, studied MBA in 2012, love to play games and write content in different categories.