Poison vs Venom

The terms poison and venom are used interchangeably by most people. In general, people understand that these terms are deadly; whether poison or venom, when it comes in contact with our bloodstream, it is catastrophic. People are right when they associate such terms with dangerous connotations. There are, however, many differences between the two terms.

What is Venom and what is Poison?

It is important to know the meaning of each concept before we establish the key differences of the two. Poison is defined as a substance that causes disturbances to organisms stemming from a chemical reaction. In essence, poison is a catch-all word for toxins and venom. We can classify poisons in various types. For example, toxins are poisons produced by some function in nature, whereas venom is a poison that infiltrates an organism due to a sting or bite of the perpetrator. Poisons can also be substances which are absorbed by the epithelial linings such as the gut or skin.

To understand poison in a clearer way, imagine this: when you come in contact with a poisonous animal, the moment its poison touches you, your body can succumb to its fatal or injurious repercussions—just by touching, ingesting, inhaling or absorbing it.

Venom, on one hand, is very different. Venom is always injected. Scientifically, venom is said to be delivered by the lymphatic system or the circulatory system which naturally aids in the poisoning process. Venom is always injected by an animal to another organism through a sting, bite or sharp body feature. Whereas poisons usually penetrate through the epithelium system which consists of the nervous and muscle tissues, venom affects an organism by spreading through the body via the circulatory system. Venom is said to come in various potencies. The potency of a venom can range from a lethal dose to a mild irritant.

The Vast Differences of Poison and Venom

While both substances inflict pain and illness to the host, the way of contracting them vastly differs. As mentioned, poisons are usually ingested and absorbed while venom is usually injected through a bite, sting or sharp body feature of an organism. Another difference between the two is the form in which these substances appear. Poisons can come in all sorts of forms—from fluid to gas to some type of solid, poisons depend on the type of organism. Venom, on one hand, usually comes in fluid form, mostly from the blood or saliva of the organism.

In essence, the two substances are both toxins but differ greatly in the way an organism contracts it. Venom is usually secreted by an internal gland of an organism. Frogs and other reptiles secrete poison through their skin. Meanwhile, venomous animals such as snakes and wasps secrete venom through their saliva (transported to another organism through their bite) or their sting.

Knowing the differences between the two, people can now be wary of the animals that they encounter; many times, venomous animals are more dangerous because the lethal affects of this type of toxin is so quick that there is no time for the body to recover from such intoxication. Poisons are often slightly more bearable—although still dangerous when absorbed by the body.

Summary:

1. Poison is defined as a substance that causes disturbances to organisms stemming from a chemical reaction. In essence, poison is a catch all word for toxins and venom. We can classify poisons in various types.

2. Venom, on one hand, is very different. Venom is always injected. Scientifically, venom is said to be delivered by the lymphatic system or the circulatory system which naturally aids the poisoning process. Venom is always injected by an animal to another organism through a sting, bite or sharp body feature.

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