melena

noun

me·​le·​na
variants or chiefly British melaena
: the passage of dark tarry stools containing decomposing blood that is usually an indication of bleeding in the upper part of the digestive tract and especially the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum compare hematochezia
melenic adjective

Dictionary Entries Near melena

Cite this Entry

“Melena.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/melena. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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