haematochezia
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - The medical term for the passage of fresh, red blood in the stool. This indicates bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract, such as the colon or rectum.
Usage
This word is a formal, clinical term used primarily in medical contexts by healthcare professionals. It describes a specific symptom, not the condition causing it. - The patient presented with haematochezia, prompting a colonoscopy. - Haematochezia is a common symptom of hemorrhoids.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often contrasted with , which refers to dark, tarry stools indicating upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
- In diagnostic discussions, haematochezia is a critical sign that guides further investigation into conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, or diverticular bleeding.
Variants and Related Words
- Hematochezia: The American English spelling, which omits the first 'a'. This variant is more common in U.S. medical literature.
- The report noted the symptom as hematochezia.
Synonyms
- Rectal bleeding: A more common, layperson's term for the same symptom.
- Blood in stool: A simple, descriptive phrase.
Different Meanings
This word has only one specific meaning in modern English: the visible presence of bright red blood in feces. It is not used in non-medical contexts.
Notes
- Haematochezia is derived from Greek roots: (blood) and (to defecate).
- It is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Its presence requires medical evaluation to determine the underlying cause.
Noun
- passage of stools containing blood (as from diverticulosis or colon cancer or peptic ulcer)