Clinical Diagnosis · Digestive System · Medium
Haematochezia
Meaning: Passage of fresh, bright red blood from the back passage, usually from the lower bowel.
In practice: Haematochezia in the older patient prompted an urgent colonoscopy to exclude cancer.
Word parts
- haema- means blood
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related clinical diagnosis words.
Which word means: High-pitched noisy breathing from upper airway obstruction, mainly heard on inspiration.
Answer: Stridor
Which word means: The presence of sugar in the urine, often a sign of high blood sugar levels or a kidney tubule problem.
Answer: Glycosuria
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