Melena

Stools or vomit stained black by blood pigment or dark blood products.

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Passage of dark-colored, tarry stools, due to the presence of blood altered by the intestinal juices. Cf.:hematochezia. SYN: melanorrhagia, melanorrhea. [G. melaina, fem. of melas, black]

- m. neonatorum m. of the newborn; melana occurring in young infants.

- m. spuria passage in the stool of blood that has been swallowed, especially that swallowed by nurslings from a fissured nipple.

- m. vera true m. as distinguished from m. spuria.

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me·le·na or chiefly Brit me·lae·na mə-'lē-nə n the passage of dark tarry stools containing decomposing blood that is usu. an indication of bleeding in the upper part of the alimentary canal and esp. the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum compare HEMATOCHEZIA

me·le·nic mə-'lē-nik adj

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me·le·na (mə-leґnə) [Gr. melaina, feminine of Gr. melas black] the passage of dark-colored feces stained with blood pigments or with altered blood. melenic adj