Digestive System & Liver

Melaena

Also called: Melena

What does Melaena mean?

Black, tar-like stool caused by digested blood, usually from upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

⚠ This term can describe a potentially urgent or life-threatening condition. This definition is educational and should not be used to decide whether emergency care is needed.

U.S. National Library of Medicine
Understanding Medical Words ↗ National Cancer Institute
Cancer Terms Dictionary ↗ CDC
Vaccine Glossary ↗

This is a plain-language Healthway explanation, not an individual diagnosis. The meaning of a term can change with the clinical context in which it appears.