Medical Terminology
Abbreviations
@
aa
a
abd
ABG
ac
ADL
ad lib
adm
AED
AIDS
AM (am)
amb
amt
A&P
ap (A)
ASA
ASAP
as tol
ax
B/B, BB
BE
bid
bil
bld
BM (bm)
BMR
BP, b/p
BRP
BR
BS
BSE
Bx, bx
at
of each
before
abdomen
arterial blood gases
before meals
activities of daily living
as desired
admission
automated external
defibrillation
acquired immune
deficiency syndrome
morning
ambulate or ambulatory
amount
anterior and posterior
apical pulse
asprin
as soon as possible
as tolerated
axillary
bed bath, bowel & bladder
barium enema
twice daily
bilateral
blood
bowel movement
basal metabolic rate
blood pressure
bathroom privileges
bedrest
blood sugar; bowel
sounds; breath sounds
breast self exam
biopsy
c
CA (ca)
CAB
CABG
C&S
CVA
with
cancer
coronary artery bypass
coronary artery bypass
graft
calorie
capsule
catheter
complete blood count
complete bed rest
center for disease control
clear liquid
chief complaint
cubic centimeter
coronary care unit
critical care unit
cysitic fibrosis
coronary heart disease
congestive heart failure
cholesterol
circulation
clear liquids
complains of
carbon dioxide
cause of death
chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease
cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation
culture and sensitivity
cerebrovascular accident
d
DAT
D&C
dc (d/c)
DNR
DOA
DOB
DR
drsg
dx
day
diet as tolerated
dilation and curettage
discontinue
do not resuscitate
dead on arrival
date of birth
doctor
dressing
diagnosis
cal
cap, caps
cath
CBC
CBR
CDC
cl liq
CC
cc
CCU
CF
CHD
CHF
chol
circ
cl liq
c/o
CO2
COD
COPD
CPR
E
ECHO
ER
enema
echocardiogram;
Echocardiography
estimated date of
Confinement
electroencephalogram
eye, ear, nose, & throat
electrocardiogram
emergency medical
technician
emergency room
F
FBS
FBW
FC
Fe
FH or FHB
Fl or fl
fx
FF (ff)
ft
fahrenheit
fasting blood sugar
fasting blood work
foley catheter
iron
fetal heart beat
fluid
fracture
force fluids
foot or feet
EDC
EEG
EENT
EKG (ECG)
EMT
ICU
intensive care unit
I&D
incision and
drainage
IM
intramuscular
in
inch
inf
inferior
inj
injection
int
internal, interior
I&O
intake and output
IV
intravenous
K
potassium
kg
kilogram
_________________________________
L or l
lab
lat
lb.
L&D
liq
lg
LLQ
LMP
LOC
GB
gallbladder
GC
gonorrhea
GI
gastrointestinal
gm
gram
gr
grain
gtt, gtts
drop, drops
GU
genitourinary
gyn
gynecology, gynecologist
_________________________________
hct
hgb
H2O
HOB
h (hr)
HS(hs)
ht
hematocrit
hemoglobin
water
head of bed
hour
hour of sleep, bedtime
height
LPN
L, lt, lft
LUQ
quadrant
liter
laboratory
lateral (side)
Pound
labor and delivery
liquid
large
left lower
quadrant
last menstrual
period
laxative of choice,
Level of consciousness
licensed practical
nurse
left
left upper
MD
medical doctor
med
medicine
meq
milliequivalent
MI
myocardial infarction
mid noc (MN)
midnight
min
minute
ml
milliliter
mm
millimeter
MOM
milk of magnesia
MT
medical technician
NA
Na
NaCl
No.
noct
NG
NPO
n/v
neg
noc
nurse aide
sodium
sodium chloride (salt)
number
night
nasogastric
nothing per mouth (os)
nausea and vomiting
negative
night
O2
Ob, OB
obstetrics
OD (o.d.)
OS (o.s.)
os
OT
oxygen
OTC
OU
Oz
p
P
path
pc
PDR
peds
per
pharm
PM, pm
po
post
post-op
pre-op
prn
psy
PT
pt
q
qd
qh
qhs
q2h
q3h
q4h
qid
qod
qns
qs
qt
every
every day
every hour
every hour of sleep
(night)
every 2 hours
every 3 hours
every 4 hours
four times a day
every other day
quantity not sufficient
quantity sufficient
quart
R
RBC
RLQ
RN
R/O, r/o
ROM
RR
R, rt.
RUQ
Rx
rectal
red blood cells
right lower quadrant
registered nurse
rule out
range of motion
recovery room
right
right upper quadrant
prescription
s
SC
sig
without
subcutaneous
give according to the
following directions
shortness of breath
solution
if necessary
specimen
spirits, liquor
on half, ½
soap solution enema
immediately
sexually transmitted
disease
sexually transmitted
infection
surgery
obstetrician,
right eye, overdose
left eye
mouth
Occupational Therapy,
therapist
over the counter
both eyes
ounce
after
pulse
pathology (study of
disease)
after meals
physician desk reference
pediatrics
by, through
pharmacy
after noon
by mouth
after
after surgery
before surgery
as necessary, as needed
psychiatry, psychology
Physical Therapy,
therapist
patient, pint
SOB
Sol
SOS
spec
spt
ss
SSE
stat
STD
STI
surg
syp
syrup
T or temp
T&A
temperature
tonsillectomy &
adnoidectomy
tablet
tuberculosis
tablespoon
transient ischemic attack
three times a day
tender loving care
temperature, pulse,
respiration
teaspoon
treatment, traction
tab
TB
tbsp
TIA
tid
TLC
TPR
tsp
tx
UA
ung , oint
ur
URI
UTI
urine analysis
ointment
urine
upper respiratory
infection
urinary tract infection
vag
VD
VO
vol
VS
WBC
w/c
wt
vagina, vaginal
venereal disease
verbal order
volume
vital signs
white blood cells
wheelchair
weight
>
<
X
greater than
less than
times
female
male