Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Test

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What is the sign of melena?

Bright red blood in vomit
Dark red blood in vomit
Bright red blood in feces
Dark red blood in feces

The correct answer is: Dark red blood in feces

Melena refers specifically to black, tarry stools that typically result from the digestion of blood in the gastrointestinal tract. This sign indicates that there is bleeding occurring from a source that is higher up in the digestive system, such as the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. The dark color is due to the changes that occur to the blood as it moves through the digestive tract, where it is acted upon by gastric juices, leading to this distinctive appearance. Bright red blood in vomit or feces (which might indicate more acute bleeding from a source closer to the exit of the digestive system) would not be classified as melena. Instead, it suggests fresh blood that hasn't undergone the same process of digestion. In the context of this question, the correct identification of melena aligns with the darker appearance, indicative of the condition.