Blood in stool, also known as hematochezia, refers to any blood that is excreted via the anus, during
the process of excrement. Some blood in stool may occur without being accompanied by excrement,
while other times, blood may be mixed in with an individual’s stool.

Blood in stool means there is bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract. Sometimes the amount of
blood is so small that it can only be detected by a fecal occult test. On other occasions, blood in stool
may be visible on toilet tissue or in the toilet after a bowel movement as bright red blood. Bleeding
that happens higher up in the digestive tract may make the blood in stool appear black and tarry.