KEY TO UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL WORDS
ROOTS
HEM ......................................................Blood
KERAT .................................................Cornea
LEUC ....................................................White
MY ......................................................Muscle
OPHTHALM ............................................Eye
OSS or OSTE .........................................Bone
OT .............................................................Ear
PED ..........................................................Feet
PNEUM ....................................................Lung
PROCT .....................................................Anus
PSYCH ...................................................Mind
PY .............................................................Pus
RHIN ........................................................Nose
BIO ..........................................................Life
CARDI.......................................................Heart
CEPHAL ................................................Head
CHOLE ....................................................Bile
CHONDR .........................................Cartilage
COST ........................................................Rib
CRANI ...................................................Skull
CYST ........................................................Sac
DERM ......................................................Skin
ENCEPHAL ...........................................Brain
ENTER ..............................................Intestine
GASTER ...........................................Stomach
GYNEC ..............................................Woman
12
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Meaning
Use or Example
a.
A
Ab., ab
Abd., abd.
ABP
abs
a/c, a.c.
acc.
accom.
A.D.
artery
area, anterior
abortion, antibody
abdomen, abdominal
arterial blood pressure
absent
on Rx means before meals
accident
accommodation
right ear
popliteal, a. inj.
bruise a. rt. arm
i one prev. Ab.
pain in abd.
ABP 130/80
lt. A/J abs
pills i a/c
his. of previous acc.
adjust eye lens to distance
A.D. hearing loss
add.
ad lib
adm.
ADT
A/G, A.G.
adductor, or adduction
as desired
admission
a placebo
Albumin/globulin ratio
(in blood)
ankle jerk
albumin
alcohol
alcohol rub
pect. maj. add. weak
food ad lib
K.U.B. on adm.
simulated med.
A/G normal
A/J
alb.
alc., alcho.
AlcR
alt.
A.M.
amb.
amt.
ann. fib.
ant.
ante
A.P.
Ap
Approx.
aq.
art.
A.S.
Ax.
A.Z.
A/J neg.
alb. normal
alc. neg.
Alc. R. to body
alternate
morning
ambulatory (up & about)
amount
annulus fibrosus
(in intervertebral disc)
anterior
before
anterior and posterior
antero-posterio
alt. bed position
A.M. care
pt. not amb.
amt. of alc. in blood
ann. fib. intact
approximately
water
artery, arterial
left ear (in ear exam)
axilla, axiliary
Ascheim-Zondek test
(for pregnancy)
approx. 500 cc V.C.
no aq.
cor. art. inj.
purulent discharge A.S.
Ax T.
A.Z. pos.
13
pain ant. knee
before meals
Alc R. A.P. rt. leg
AP spine x-ray
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Meaning
Use or Example
B.
Bab.
BaEnema, Ba En, BE
Bas.
Baso.
Bic.
b.i.d.
bk.
blad.
bld.
B.M.
bath
Babinski sign
Barium enema
basal, basilar
basophile
biceps
twice a day (bis in diem)
back
bladder
blood
bowel movement
bowl B.
rt. Bab. neg.
BE in P.M.
Bas. skull inj.
in blood (white cell) count
lac. over rt. Bic.
ADT b.i.d.
Alc. R. to bk.
blad. dis.
bld. sugar pos.
B.M. A.M.
BMR
B/P, B.P.
Brach.
BRP
BSP
BUN
basal metabolism test (rate)
blood pressure
brachial
bathroom privileges
bromsulphalein test
blood urea nitrogen
BMR +20
B.P. 125/80
Brach. pain
BRP 3 x day
BSP 3.5%
BUN ordered
c
C.
C-1-X11
Ca
ca.
Cal.
Calc.
caps.
car.
card.
con, cum - meaning "with"
centigrade
1st to 12th cranial nerve
cancer, or carcinoma
about
calorie, calories
calcium
capsule
carotid
cardiac
bed rest c traction
o
T. 55 C.
C-V involv.
Ca bone
pain ca elbow
1500 Cal. diet
bld. Calc. decr.
caps. i 111 daily
car. art.
card. status stable
Cauc.
CBC
cc, c.c.
C.C.
C.D.
C.E.
Cerv.
cf.
ch.
chlor.
caucasian
complete blood count
cubic centimeters
chief complaint
contagious disease (ward)
cardiac enlargement
cervix, or cervical
compare
chest
chlorides
WDWN Cauc., F.
lab. for CBC
20 cc Sa sol.
C.C.: abd. pain
C.D. treatment
C.E. 111 F. rt.
Cerv. firm
cf. ears
strapping of ch.
bld. chlor. increased
C.I.
Cl.
color index (of blood)
chloride
C.I. 0.85
Cl. bld. test
14
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Meaning
Use or Example
clav.
cm.
comm.
CNS
CO 2
Coc.
clavicle
centimeter
communicable
central nervous system
Carbon dioxide
coccygeal
frac. rt. clav.
index finger 7.5 cm.
comm. disease
CNS neg.
CO2 output
Coc. frac.
comb.
comf.
comp.
combine, combination
comfortable
compound, compress
comb. heat and motion
made comf.
comp. frac. lt. leg
cons.
cont.
contrib.
consultation
continue, containing, continuous
contributory
cpd.
CR
cran.
Cr. Ns.
C.S.
CSF
C-V
CVA
CVA
Cysto
compound
cardiorespiratory system
cranial
cranial nerves
central service
cerebrospinal fluid
cardiovascular
cost-vertebral angle
cerebrovascular accident
(stroke)
cystoscopy
neuro. cons. neg.
cont. I.V.
pre-existing inj. noncontrib.
cpd. frac.
CR sys. pos.
cran. bld. supply
Cr. Ns. 111 pinched
C.S. supply
CSF pos.
C-V neg
fluid, rt CVA
CVA at home
to cysto for bladder study
D&C
dehyd.
depr.
dept.
decr.
diff.
dil.
dim.
dis.
dist.
dilatation & curettage
dehydrated
depressed
department
decrease, decreased
differential (blood count)
dilute, diluted
diminish, diminished
disease
distilled (water)
D & C 6 mo. prev.
Cauc. M. dehyd.
bone frac. depr.
Acct. dept.
decr. resp.
diff. abnorm.
2 oz. Sa. dil. c water
pulse dim.
infect. dis.
10 oz. dist. aq.
dist.
DOA
Dors.
D.P.
distal
dead on arrival
dorsal
dorsalis pedis (pulse)
dist. Hd. fem.
pt. DOA 10:30 P.M.
Dors. back sprain
D.P. felt on rt. only
15
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Meaning
Use or Example
Dr.
DTR’s
Doctor
deep tendon reflexes
DTR’s normal
ECG
EEG
EENT
EKG (German)
Elev.
En.
ENT
EOM
ECG neg.
EEG neg.
EENT neg.
EKG inconclusive
Keep leg elev.
En A.M.
ENT neg.
EOM pos.
EOM
electrocardiogram
electroencephalogram
eye, ear, nose & throat
electrocardiogram
elevated
enema
ear, nose & throat
extraocular muscles, equal
ocular movements
external otitis media
Eos.
ESR
ess.
excess.
ext.
extr.
extens.
eosinophiles
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
essentially
excessive
external
extremities, extremity
extension, extensor
Eos. normal
ESR normal
examination ess. neg.
excess. sweating
ext. genitalia
upper extr.
lac. extens. muscle
F.
F.
finger(s)
in history, can mean
either female or father
fahrenheit (temperature)
femoral, femur
family history
flaccid
flexor, flexion
fluid ounces
fluids
iiF. from elbow
98.6 F
fem. a.
F.H. neg.
biceps flac.
flex. of biceps weak
8 fl. oz., aq.
replace fl.
Fo.
Ft.
Fr., Frx., Fx.,
or frac.
fomentation
foot, or feet
fracture
Fo. to lt. arm
frac. rt. ft.
frac. lt. clav.
G. or gm.
gram or grams
G.B.
gen. or genl.
gall bladder
general
pt. received 60 gm. Zn
Oint.
G.B. stones
gen. health
F.
fem.
F.H.
flac.
flex.
fl. oz.
fl.
16
EOM diag.
o
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Meaning
Use or Example
genit.
G.I.
gluc.
gr.
grav.
gt, gtt.
G.U.
Gyn.
genitalia
gastro-intestinal
glucose
grains (dosage)
gravid
drop, drops
genito-urinary
gynecology, gynecological,
gynecologist
inflamed genit.
G.I. series neg.
urine neg. for gluc.
pentobarbitol gr. iss h.s.
pt. grav. i.
2 gtt. t.i.d.
G.U. sys. normal
request Gyn. consult.
h.
H.
HCL
H&C
Hd.
hern.
hg. or hbg.
hist.
Hr.
H.S. or h.s.
Ht.
hyst.
hour (as g.h.)
hypodermic
hydrochloric acid
hot and cold
head
herniated
hemoglobin
history
hour
hour of sleep
height or heart
hysterectomy, or hysteria
B/P q.h.
m.s. gr. 1/4 per. H.
HCL dilute c aq.
H & C to back
lac. of Hd.
hern. ann. fib. L4-5
hg. normal
hist. non contrib.
q 2 Hr.
1 cap. at H.S.
Ht. normal
hyst. 5 yrs ago
I
i, ii, iii
i.d.
in.
inj.
int.
involv.
I.M.
irreg.
irrig.
radioactive iodine
1, 2, 3, etc.
in diem (during the day)
inch
injured
internal
involved
intramuscular (injection)
irregular
irrigate, irrigation
I131 shows 20% uptake
Para ii
visitors i.d.
60 in.
lt. leg inj. in fall
int. organs
Pt. involv. in fight
i ml. B12 I.M.
resp. irreg.
irrig. O.D.
I.V.
IVD
IVP
IVU
intravenous
intervertebral disc
intravenous pyelogram
intravenous urogram
I.V. ordered
IVD L4-5
IVP requested
IVU completed
Jt.
joint
frac. elbow Jt.
K.
potassium
check K. level
17
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
K.
KJ
KUB
L.
L&A
lab.
lac.
lacr.
lact.
lam.
lap.
lat.
lav.
lb.
L.E.
leuc.
lg.
lig.
liq.
L.L.E.
L. lat.
LOA
LOP
L.P.
L.S.
LSK
Lt., lt.
L.U.E.
lumb.
L&W
Meaning
kidney
knee jerk
kidney, ureter, bladder
(x-ray)
can variously mean liver,
liter, left, lower,
light, lumbar (depending
on context)
light and accommodation
(reflexes of pupil)
laboratory
laceration
lacrimal
lactic acid, lactate,
lactating
laminectomy
laparotomy
lateral
lavatory
pound
can mean lupus
erythematosus, or lower
extremities
leucocytes (in blood)
leg or large
ligament
liquid
left lower extremity
left lateral
left occip. anterior
obstetrics
left occipital posterior
lumbar puncture
lumbrosacral
liver, spleen & kidneys
light, or left
left upper extremity
lumbar
living and well
Use or Example
lt. K. infected
lt. KJ present
KUB normal
10 L.
L & A normal
tissue spec. to lab.
lac. lt. hand
lacr. probe ordered
lac. abd.
lam. L4-5
lap. recommended
pain rt. lat. ch.
lav. privileges denied
20 lb. traction to neck
L.E. diagnosed
leuc. normal
lac. lt. lg.
torn lig. rt. knee
liq. only
L.L.E. hot
L. Lat. chest
LOA present
LOP present
L.P. recommended
L.S. strain
LSK normal
sprain lt. hip
L.U.E. ampt.
lumb. reflexes
M. l & w
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
lymphs
m.
M.
M.
Macro.
max.
mcg. or mcgm.
MCH
MCHC
MCV
med.
mEq./L
Meaning
Use or Example
lymphocytes (in blood)
lymphs. normal
minims (1/16th of fluid dram)
in history, means male
or mother
meter
macrocytic, macroscopic
maximum, or maxillary
microgram
mean corpuscular hemoglobin
mean corpuscular
hemoglobin concentration
10 m. Hcl
WDWN M.
M. stomach tube
cyst of macro. proportion
lt. max. pain
8 mcg. B 12 O.D.
MCH 30
MCHC 35%
mean corpuscular volume
medial
milliequivalents (mEq./L
-per liter)
milligrams
microcytic, microscopic
minimal, or minimum
milliliter (approximately
1 cc.)
muscles
MCV 90 cu. micro
med. aspect lt. arm
Na.-121 mEq./L
MN
Mod.
monos.
M.S.
m.s.
Ms
Mss
M.T.
multip.
mononuclears (leucocytes)
moderate, moderately
monocytes (in blood)
multiple sclerosis
morphine sulphate
murmurs
massage
muscles and tendons
multiparous (more than
one child delivered
at one birth)
MN normal
mod. curve. spine
monos. normal
R/O M.S.
m.s. ordered
Ms present
mss to back
M.T. intact
Multip. delivery
musc.
muscle, muscles, muscular
Pt. has musc. spasm
M.T.
membrane tympani (ear drum)
rt. M.T. neg.
mg. or mgm.
micro.
min.
ml.
mm.
410 mg. arsthinol q.d.
WBC micro
min. back again
1 ml. camphor in oil
im. prn.
abd. mm. firm
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Meaning
Use or Example
PBI
p/c, p.c.
PCV
PBI 5.5
bed rest p/c
PCV elevated
pdr.
P.E.
protein-bound iodine
after meals
packed cell volume
(of blood)
powder
physical examination
ped.
PEG
Per.
pediatrics
pneumoencephalogram
perineal
pen.
P.F.
pH
penicillin
push fluids
acidity value of blood
or urine
past history or personal history
physiotherapy, physical
therapy
present illness
radioactive phosphorus
afternoon
polymorphonuclear
(leucocytes)
pneumo, pneumonia
per oral (by mouth)
post-operative
polymorphonuclear
(leucocytes)
positive
posterior
potassium
P.H.
physio.
P.I.
p131
P.M.
PMN
pneu.
po
P.O.
polys.
pos.
post.
pot. or potass.
pre-op
prev.
primip.
P.R.N.
pron.
preoperative
previous
primiparous (first
pregnancy, no prior
pregnancies)
therapy
in dosage, means as required,
when necessary, as needed
pronator, pronation
dusting pdr.
P.E. within normal
limits
ped. service
PEG in P.M.
inflamed Per.
pos. to pen.
P.F. to 2,000 ml.
pH 7.0
P.H. not remarkable
physio. ordered
P.I.: backache
p131 test
schedule P.M. x-ray
PMN normal
pneu. 2 yrs. ago
penicillin po.
3 weeks P.O. care
polys. increased
pos. lt. Laseques sign
post. x-ray spine
test for pot. distribution
in body fluids
order pre-op workup
prev. hist. of diabetes
Pt. in primip.
medication P.R.N.
restricted pron.
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Meaning
Use or Example
pros.
prox.
PSP
pros. normal
prox. end of tibia
PSP in P.M.
Pwd.
Px.
prostate, prostatic
proximal
phenolsulfonphthalein
test
patient
physiotherapy, physical therapy
posterior tibial artery
pulse
powder
physical examination
q.q.
q.d.
q.n.
q.2.h.
q.i.d.
q.n.s.
q.s., qs.
every
every day
every night
every two hours
four times a day
quantity not sufficient
quantity sufficient
qts. (handwriting
corruption)
q.v.
drops
q A.M.
10 fl. oz. q.d.
alcR. back q.n.
medication q.2.h.
amb. 4 q.i.d.
blood q.n.s. (for testing)
specimen q.s. (when
not measured)
3 qts. o.d. for 3 d.
as much as you wish
liq. q.v.
R.
R., (R)
rad.
RBC
rect.
right, rub
rectal (temperature)
radial
red blood cells
rectum, rectal, rectis
(muscle)
rehabilitation
respiratory, respiration
Rh factor of blood
rule out
alc. R. to lt. shoulder
T. per R.
rad. nerve
RBC’s decreased
rect. muscle spasm
ROA
ROP
right occiput anterior
right occiput posterior
(obstetrics)
ROA presentation
ROP presentation
s
Sa.
sine (without)
saline
Fo. s hot compress
Sa. solution
Pt., pt.
P.T.
P.T.
rehab.
resp.
Rh
R/O
Pt. admitted
to P.T. for exercises
P.T. pulse weak
apply Pwd.
Px. ordered
rehab. started
resp. shallow
Rh negative
R/O IVD
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Meaning
Use or Example
Sed. rate
Sed. rate 8 mm./hr.
sod.
S.O.S.
sp.
sp. cd.
spec.
sedimentation rate of
blood
seminal vesicles
ves.
sensory, sensation
serology, serological
serum glutamic oxalacetic
transaminase (test)
serum glutamic pyruvic
transaminase
skeletal
siblings
take (on prescription)
slight, slightly
straight-leg raising
(test)
sodium
when necessary
spine, spinal
spinal cord
specimen
sp. fl.
spg.
sp. gr.
spin.
S.R.
ss
s.s.
SSE
stat.
stom., st.
spinal fluid
sponge
specific gravity
spine, spinal, spinous
sedimentation rate
one-half
soap suds
soap suds enema
immediately, at once
stomach
sp. fl. cloudy
spg. bath
sp. gr. 1.006
pain over C7 spin. process
S.R. norm
ml. ss h.s.
s.s. En.
SSE in A.M.
I.V. stat.
dist. st.
S.T.S.
S.T.S. neg.
subcut.
sulf.
sup.
supin.
surg.
sys.
serological test for
syphilis
subcutaneous
sulfate
superior
supination
surgery
system
subcut. injection
M. sulf. forbidden
sup. orbital fissure
supin. rt. arm restricted
card. surg.
respiratory sys.
T.
temperature
T. normal
sem. ves.
sens.
sero. or serol.
SGO-T
SGP-T
skel.
sibs.
sig.
sl.
SLR
inflammation of sem.
sens. to pin prick neg.
sero. test normal
SGO-T 110
SGP-T 80
skel. mm. intact
3 sibs. l & w
sig. ii czps. P.R.N.
pt. sl. dizzy
SLR neg. on rt.
low sod. diet
hot compresses S.O.S.
x-ray sp.
sp. cd. severed
urine spec. to lab.
MEDICAL RECORD ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Meaning
Use or Example
T&A
tonsillectomy and
adenoidectomy
tablet
talcum
tetanus antitoxin
tuning fork
thorax, thoracic
thrombosis
three times a day
tympanum membrani
(ear drum)
temperature, pulse,
respiration
T & A at 13 yrs. of age
tab.
talc.
T.A.T.
T.F.
thor.
thromb.
t.i.d.
T.M.
TPR
aspirin tab. P.R.N.
talc. rub P.M.
T.A.T. given
T.F. test pos. for A.D.
3rd thor. Vert.
coronary thromb.
2 caps. t.i.d.
T.M. punctured
TPR normal
uln.
ulnar
frac. distal 3rd uln.
upper G.I.
upper gastrointestinal
(as in series of x-rays)
upper G.I. pos.
Vag.
V.C.
V.D.
VDRL
Vag. exam neg.
V.C. 4000 cc.
R/O V.D.
VDRL pos.
vent.
VI
V.I.
vol.
vaginal
vital capacity
venereal disease
serologic test for
venereal disease
(venereal disease
research laboratory)
ventral
volume index
vaginal irrigation
volume
WBC
w.d., WD
wh. ch.
w.n., WN
w.m., WM
w.f., WF
wt.
white blood count
well developed
white child, wheel chair
well nourished
white male
white female
weight, weigh
WBC normal
w.d.m.
use of wh. ch. OK
w.n.f.
40 yr. old w.m.
21 yr. old w.f.
wt. A.M.
X
times
3 X q.d.
bruis vent. surf. abd
VI 3.1 L./min./sq.M.
V.I. daily A.M.
pulm. res. vol. 1.0-1.5 L.