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Blood that has been digested by stomach acids manifests as:

A. gray-colored stool.
B. bright red vomitus.
C. coffee-ground emesis.
D. hematochezia.

User Robbit
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2 Answers

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Final answer:

Blood that has been digested by stomach acids manifests as coffee-ground emesis due to the action of stomach acids on hemoglobin. This dark appearance is distinct from fresh bleeding, which would not show the coffee-ground effect.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks about the appearance of blood after it has been digested by stomach acids. When blood is exposed to the acidic environment of the stomach, the hemoglobin in the blood is broken down and can turn into a dark brown or black substance.

This digested blood, when vomited, resembles coffee-ground emesis. The dark color is due to the action of stomach acids on the iron contained in the hemoglobin, converting it to a form that appears as dark coffee grounds when ejected from the body.

Other choices, such as gray-colored stool, can be associated with liver issues leading to a lack of bile pigments. Bright red vomitus would indicate active bleeding that has not been acted upon by stomach acids, and hematochezia refers to red, fresh blood in the stool, usually from the lower gastrointestinal tract.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is C. coffee-ground emesis.

User Sean Doherty
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3 votes

Final answer:

Digested blood by stomach acids presents as coffee-ground emesis due to the dark coloration after hemoglobin reacts with the stomach acid. The correct option for the manifestation of digested blood by stomach acids in vomit is C. coffee-ground emesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Blood that has been digested by stomach acids typically manifests as coffee-ground emesis. When hemoglobin from red blood cells mixes with stomach acid, it turns into a dark brown or black substance. This is why vomit can appear similar to coffee grounds when there is bleeding in the stomach.

This condition differs from hematochezia, which is characterized by bright red blood in the stool, often indicating bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract. Grey-colored stool can be indicative of certain conditions but is generally not associated with the presence of digested blood. Bright red vomitus would usually indicate a fresher bleed, closer to the time of expulsion.

User Kevin Lee
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