Definitions of Various Types of Gastrointestinal Bleeding (8)
| Term | Definition |
| Overt or acute gastrointestinal bleeding | Visible bleeding in the form of hematemesis, melena, or hematochezia |
| Occult or chronic gastrointestinal bleeding | Bleeding not apparent to patient and presenting as anemia or on fecal occult blood testing |
| Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding | Recurrent bleeding of uncertain source after or despite upper or lower endoscopy |
| Hematemesis | Vomiting of blood |
| Melena | Dark, tarry/sticky feces containing partially digested blood |
| Hematochezia | Passage of fresh blood per anus, usually in or within stools |