Which term describes black tarry stool?

Which term describes black tarry stool?

• A. Pancreatitis
• B. Icteric
• C. Laceration
• D. Melena

Answer: (D)

Melena describes black, tarry stools due to digestion of blood in the gastrointestinal tract, usually from an upper GI bleed. The dark color comes from hemoglobin breakdown and iron oxidation as the blood travels through the intestines, giving a distinctive sticky, tarry appearance often with a strong odor. This finding points to possible GI bleeding and requires clinical evaluation. The other terms describe different things: pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, not a stool description; icteric refers to jaundice with yellowing of skin and mucous membranes; a laceration is a wound or tear in tissue. Iron or bismuth can darken stool too, but melena specifically denotes digested blood with that characteristic tarry appearance.

Melena describes black, tarry stools due to digestion of blood in the gastrointestinal tract, usually from an upper GI bleed. The dark color comes from hemoglobin breakdown and iron oxidation as the blood travels through the intestines, giving a distinctive sticky, tarry appearance often with a strong odor. This finding points to possible GI bleeding and requires clinical evaluation.

The other terms describe different things: pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, not a stool description; icteric refers to jaundice with yellowing of skin and mucous membranes; a laceration is a wound or tear in tissue. Iron or bismuth can darken stool too, but melena specifically denotes digested blood with that characteristic tarry appearance.