noun
- the passage of dark, tarry stools containing blood, typically from the upper gastrointestinal tract
Usage: medical term; also spelled melæna
Examples
- The patient presented with melena and was immediately admitted to the hospital.
- Melena can indicate bleeding in the stomach or small intestine.
- The doctor noted melena as a sign of a serious gastrointestinal condition.
- Melena differs from bright red blood in the stool, which suggests lower intestinal bleeding.