Definition

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Rectal bleeding can refer to any blood that passes from your anus, although rectal bleeding is usually assumed to refer to bleeding from your lower colon or rectum. Your rectum makes up the lower portion of your large intestine.

Rectal bleeding may show up as blood in your stool, on the toilet paper or in the toilet bowl. Blood that results from rectal bleeding is usually bright red in color, but occasionally can be dark maroon.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

Dec. 07, 2023

See also

  1. Carcinoid tumors
  2. Colon cancer
  3. Colon Cancer Family Registry
  4. Colon cancer screening: At what age can you stop?
  5. Colon cancer screening
  6. Colon polyps
  7. Colorectal Cancer
  8. Diverticulitis
  9. Early-onset colon cancer
  10. GI Stents
  11. Hemorrhoids
  12. Mayo Clinic Minute: What you need to know about polyps in your colon
  13. What is ulcerative colitis? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  14. Living with an ostomy
  15. Peritoneal carcinomatosis
  16. Plague
  17. Proctitis
  18. Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome
  19. Symptom Checker
  20. Ulcerative colitis
  21. Ulcerative colitis flare-ups: 5 tips to manage them