the passage of dark tarry stools containing blood that has been subject to partial digestion; usually an indication of bleeding in the upper part of the digestive tract, especially the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum
Dark, pitchy stool caused by bleeding into the digestive tract.
Black-coloured faeces caused by the presence of blood.
abnormally dark tarry feces containing blood (usually from gastrointestinal bleeding)
Black stools caused by bleeding in the stomach or small intestine.
Dark tarry faeces (feces), due to blood pigments (also spelt maelena)
Passage of dark-colored, tarry stools, due to the presence of blood altered by the intestinal juices.
Stools or vomit stained black by blood pigment or dark blood products.
Black tarry stool due to presence of digested hemoglobin
In medicine, melena or melaena refers to the black, "tarry" feces that are associated with gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The black color is caused by oxidation of the iron in hemoglobin during its passage through the ileum and colon.
