Melena describes what?

• A. Bright red blood in stool
• B. Pale, clay-colored stool
• C. No stool change
• D. Black stool that contains blood

Answer: (D)

Melena is the appearance of dark, black, tarry stools caused by digested blood in the gastrointestinal tract. The blood has been exposed to stomach acid and digestive enzymes as it moves through, giving the stool its black color, sticky texture, and often a foul odor. This pattern usually signals an upper GI bleed (stomach or duodenum) where blood has time to be digested. It’s distinct from bright red blood in stool, which points to a lower GI source, and from pale, clay-colored stool, which suggests lack of bile. So black stool that contains blood describes melena.