What type of blood is characterized as oxygen-poor and dark red?

Deoxygenated blood is characterized as oxygen-poor and dark red due to its lower oxygen content. This type of blood returns to the heart from the body's tissues, carrying carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products to be expelled. Unlike oxygenated blood, which is bright red because it is rich in oxygen and is found in the arteries, deoxygenated blood is typically found in the veins as it has already delivered oxygen to the tissues and picked up carbon dioxide. This distinct difference in color and composition is critical for understanding blood flow and gas exchange within the circulatory system. Venous blood, while it does refer to blood in veins, is more specifically classified as deoxygenated blood after it has delivered oxygen and collected carbon dioxide from the tissues.