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A - E ·  F - L ·  M - Q ·  R - Z ·  Organization & Group Acronyms 
  A Back to Top | Glossary Home  
a assessment
 also before (Lat. ante)
a or AB abortion or miscarriage
a or ART artery
A&E accident and emergency
A&P auscultation and percussion
A&W alive and well
a.c. before meals (Lat. ante cenam)
a.f.g.f. acidic fibroblast growth factor
a.k. above knee
a.p. before dinner
A.S.A. American Society of Anesthesiologists
A.S.A. 1 normal healthy patient
A.S.A. 2 patient with mild systemic disease
A.S.A. 3 patient with severe systemic disease
A.S.A. 4 patient with incapacitating systemic disease that is constant threat to life
A.Z. Ascheim-Zondek test
A/B acid/base ratio
A/BE acid/base equilibrium
A/G albumin globulin ratio
A/O alert and oriented
A2 aortic second sound
AA affected area
aa equal part of each
AAA abdominal aortic aneurysm
AAL acute lymphoblastic leukemia
 also anterior axillary line
AAROM active assisted range of motion
AASP acute atrophic spinal paralysis
AAU acute anterior uveitis
AB Ace Bandage
 also active bilaterally
ab antibody
AB or abd abdominal
Abb abbreviations
ABC absolute basophil count
abd. abdomen
 also abduction
 also abductor
ABE activity before exercise
 also acute bacterial endocarditis
ABG arterial blood gas
ABN abnormal
 also active bulimia nervosa
 also acute bacterial nephritis
ABP arterial blood pressure
abs absent
ABW actual body weight
Ac acute
AC anterior chamber
acc accident
Acc.Inc. accidentally incurred
Acc.Inj. accidental injury
accom. accommodation
ACE angiotensin converting enzyme
ACEI angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
ACh Acetylcholine
AChR Acetylcholine receptor
ACL anterior cruciate ligament
ACM acute cerebrospinal meningitis
ACM or APAP acetaminophen (paracetamol)
ACNP acute care nurse practitioner
ACOP approved code of practice
Acous acoustic
Acr acrylic
ACS acute cervical sprain
Act actinomycin
ACT active motion
 also anesthesia care team
act activity
Act-C actinomycin C
Act-D actinomycin D
ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone
ACVD acute cardiovascular disease
AD advance directive
 also Alzheimer's disease
 also right ear (Lat. auris dexter)
ad lib as desired
 also at liberty
ADD Attention Deficit Disorder
ADH antidiruetic hormone (vasopressin)
ADHD Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder
ADL activities of daily living
ADM acquired dermal melanocytosis
 also arginine-deficient medium
adm. admission
ADR adverse drug reaction
AE above elbow
AEA above elbow amputation
AF afebrile
AF or Afib atrial fibrillation
AFB acid fast bacilli
AFO ankle-foot orthosis
AFP alpha fetoprotein
AGA appropriate gestational age
AgNO3 silver nitrate
AH abdominal hysterectomy
AHCD acquired hepatocellular degeneration
AHD acquired hepatocerebral degeneration
AHF Argentinian hemorrhagic fever
aI active ingredient
AI Adequate Intake
 also aortic insufficiency
 also articulation index
AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AIDS-KS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with Kaposi's sarcoma
AJ ankle jerk
AKA above knee amputation
aka alcoholic ketoacidosis
alb. albumin
alc. alcohol
alkPhos alkaline phosphate
ALL acute lymphocytic/lymphoblastic leukemia
ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ALT alanine aminotransferase (formerly SGPT)
 also alternating with
AM before noon (Lat. ante meridiem)
AMA against medical advice
amb. ambulating
 also ambulatory
AMD age-related macular degeneration
AMI acute myocardial infarction
AML acute myeloid/myeloblastic leukemia
amnio amniocentesis
amp. ampule
 also amputation
ANA see FANA antinuclear antibody test
anes. anesthesia
ANF antinuclear factor
ann. fib. annulus fibrosis
ANS autonomic nervous system
ant. anterior
ANUG acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
Anxty or ANX anxiety
AO aorta
AOB alcohol on breath
AODM adult onset diabetes mellitus
AP acid phosphatase
 also active pepsin
 also ante partum
A-P anteroposterior
AP res. abdominal perineal resection of the rectum
A-P&lat or AP&L anteroposterior and lateral
APC atrial premature contractions
aph aphasia
aq. water
AR active-resistance
 also aortic regurgitation
ARC AIDS Related Complex
ARD acute respiratory distress
ARDS adult respiratory distress syndrome
ARE active-resistance exercise
ARF acute respiratory failure
 also acute rheumatic fever
Arg. arginine
AROM active range of motion
 also artificial rupture of membranes
art arterial
 also articulation
AS aortic stenosis
 also left ear (Lat. Auris sinistra)
ASA aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
ASAP as soon as possible
ASC or ATS arteriosclerosis
ASCVD atherosclerotic/arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease
ASD atrial septal defect
ASHD arteriosclerotic heart disease
ASO antistreptolysin O
AST aspartate aminotransferase (formerly SGOT)
 also aspartate transaminase
AT Achilles tendon
at. flut. atrial flutter
ATN acute tubular necrosis
ATNR asymmetrical tonic neck reflex
ATP adenosine triphosphate
ATR Achilles tendon reflex
ATT arginine tolerance test
AU according to custom (Lat. ad usum)
 also both ears (Lat. auris unitas)
aud. auditory
Aur. Fib auricular fibrillation
AV aortic valve
 also atrioventricular
AV or AvV atrioventricular valves
AVD aortic valve disease
AVE aortic valve echocardiogram
AVF arteriovenous fistula
AVHS acquired valvular heart syndrome
AVO aortic valve opening
AVp arginine vasopressin
AVR aortic valve replacement
AVS aortic valve stenosis
AVt arginine vasotocin
AW able to work
 also above waist
Ax. axial
 also axilla
 also axillary
AXR abdominal X-ray
  B Back to Top | Glossary Home  
B black
 also born
B&C biopsy and curettage
B&J bone and joint
B. bath
b.i.d. or B/D twice daily (Lat. bis in die)
b.i.n. or B/N twice a night (Lat. bis in nox)
B.U.O. bleeding of undetermined origin
 also bruising of undetermined origin
BA brachial artery
 also bronchial asthma
Ba.E or BA or BE barium enema
Ba.S barium swallow
Bab. Babinski sign
BAC blood alcohol concentration
BAL bronchoalveolar lavage
BAM basilar artery migraine
BAO basal acid output
 also brachial artery output
BAO-MAO basal acid output to maximal acid output
BAP Behavior Activity Profile
 also brachial artery pressure
BAR bariatrics
 also barometer
 also barometric
 also beta-adrenergic receptor
Barb barbiturate
BarbDep barbiturate dependence
BARK beta-adrenergic receptor kinase
BAS beta-adrenergic stimulation
Bas. basal
 also basilar
baso basophile
 also basophilic
BAT basic aid training
 also blunt abdominal trauma
 also brown adipose tissue
BAV bicuspid aortic valve
BB beta blocker
 also both bones
BBA born before arrival
BBB bundle branch block
BBBB bilateral bundle-branch block
BBF bronchial blood flow
BBk blood bank
BBS bashful bladder syndrome
 also bilateral breath sounds
BBT basal body temperature
BBTC basal body temperature chart
BBx or BrBx. breast biopsy
BBx/FS breast biopsy/frozen section
BC basal cell
 also birth control
 also board certified
 also breast cancer
 also bronchial carcinoma
 also buffy coat
Bc or HCO3 bicarbonate
BCA balloon catheter angioplasty
 also basal cell atypia
 also breast cancer antigen
BCAg basal cell antigen
BCC basal cell carcinoma
 also benign cellular changes
 also birth control clinic
BCD basal cell dysplasia
BCE basal cell epithelioma
BCG bacillus Calmette-Guerin (tuberculosis vaccine)
 also ballistocardiogram
 also ballistocardiography
 also bromcresol green (Dye)
BCH basal cell hyperplasia
BCP birth control pills
BCS breast conservation surgery
BCt blood count
BCult or bl cult blood culture
BCyF breast cyst fluid
BCyFP breast cyst fluid protein
BD band
 also barbital-dependent
 also behavioral disorder
 also bile duct
 also blood donor
 also brain damage
 also brain dead
 also brain death
bd twice daily
BD or D.O.B. birth date
Bd. board
BDC burn dressing change
BdG bidirectional Glenn shunt
BDI blunt duodenal injury
BDil bronchodilator
BE below elbow
BEA below elbow amputation
BFlo blood flow
BFP biological false positive
BHT blunt head trauma
BI basilar impression
 also biological indicator
 also bodily injury
 also bone impaction
 also burn index
Bic. biceps
BID brought in dead
BIH bilateral inguinal hernia
bilat. bilateral
 also bilaterally
bili bilirubin
BInj brain injury
BiW twice weekly
BJ biceps jerk (reflex)
BJM bones joints muscles
BK below knee
bk. back
BKA below knee amputation
BkMD Becker muscular dystrophy
BL blood loss
BL or BsL baseline
Blad. bladder
bld. blood
BLE both lower extremities
BLLF bilateral lower lung fields
BLQ both lower quadrants
BLS basic life support
BLS-D basic life support and defibrillation
BM basal metabolism
 also black male
 also bone marrow
 also bowel movement
BMD Best's macular dystrophy
BMI body mass index
BMR basal metabolic rate
BMT or HDC bone marrow transplant
BN bulimia nervosa
BND barely noticeable difference
BNO bladder neck obstruction
BO(R) bowels open (regularly)
BOA born on arrival
BOE bilateral otitis externa
BOIP bronchiolitis obliterans interstitial pneumonia
BOM bilateral otitis media
BOMA otitis media, both ears, acute
BOO bladder outlet obstruction
BOOP bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia
BOP blood ova parasites
BoTox or BT botulinum toxin
BOW bag of water
BP blood pressure
 also body part
BPC or BPCuff blood pressure cuff
BPD bronchopulmonary dysplasia
BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy
BPM beats per minute
BPP blood pressure and pulse
BR bedrest
BR or WC bathroom
Br. breech presentation
brach. brachial
BRBPR bright red blood per rectum
broncho bronchoscopy
BRP bathroom privileges
BS blood sugar
 also bowel sounds
 also breath sounds
 also bronchial secretion
BSA body surface area
BSA or BS+ bowel sounds active
BSB bedside bag
BSC bedside commode
BSD bedside drainage
BSEx breast self examination
BSN bowel sounds normal
BSO bilateral salpingooophorectomy
BSP bromsulphalein (Dye)
BSR basal skin resistance
 also blood sedimentation rate
 also bowel sounds regular
BSS balanced salt solution
BST blood serologic test
BT bladder tumor
 also blood type
 also body temperature
 also brain tumor
 also breast tumor
BT or Bl.T bleeding time
BT or HS bedtime
BTB bromthymol blue (Dye)
BTE behind the ear
BTFS breast tumor/frozen section
BTL bilateral tubal ligation
BTLS basic trauma life support
BTR biceps tendon reflex
BTS blood transfusion service
BTU British thermal unit
BTW by the way
BTx blood transfusion
 also brevetoxin
BU Bethesda unit
 also blood urea
 also burn unit
 also Buruli ulcer
BUA blood uric acid
Buc or Bucc buccal
BUE both upper extremities
BUN blood urea nitrogen
BUN/CR blood urea nitrogen/creatine ratio
BUQ both upper quadrants
BUR bilateral ureteral occlusion
BUS Bartholin, urethral, and Skene glands
BV blood vessel
BVE blood vessel endothelium
BVO branch vein occlusion
BVP blood vessel prosthesis
BW bed wetting
 also below waist
 also birth weight
 also black woman
BW or body wt. body weight
BWS battered woman/wife syndrome
Bx. biopsy
  C Back to Top | Glossary Home  
C Caucasian
 also cervical
C&S culture and sensitivity
C. Celsius complement
 also centigrade
 also gallon
c. with
C.I color index
C.M.M. Certified Nurse-Midwife
c.v. tomorrow night
C/O care of
c/o complains of
 also complaints
C/S Cesarean section
C1 - C7 cervical vertebrae
Ca calcium
 also carcinoma
CA cancer
 also cardiac arrest
 also Caucasian adult
CAA cerebral amyloid angiopathy
CABG coronary artery bypass graft
CaCO3 calcium carbonate
CAD coronary artery disease
CAF Caucasian adult female
 also cell adhesion factor
Caf. caffeine
CAH chronic active hepatitis
CAHD coronary atherosclerotic heart disease
Cal or Kcal. calorie
CAM Caucasian adult male
CAPD continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
Caps capsules
car. carotid
Card Cath cardiac catheterization
card. cardiac
CardMyo cardiomyopathy
CaSac calcium saccharin
CAT computerized axial tomography
Cat. cataract
cath catheter
 also catheterization
CB Cesarean birth
CBC complete blood count
CBD common bile duct
CBF cerebral blood flow
CBG capillary blood gas
CBR complete bed rest
CBV catheter balloon valvuloplasty
 also cerebral blood volume
CC Caucasian child
 also chief complaint
cc. cubic centimeter
CCB calcium channel blocker
CCBs calcium channel blocker class
CCF congestive cardiac failure
C-CF carotid-cavernous fistula
CCGC capillary column gas chromotography
CCU coronary care unit
CD cadaver donor
 also cardiac disease
 also contagious disease
cd candela (measurement unit for light)
CD or COD or c.m. cause of death (Lat. causa mortis)
CDC Center for Disease Control
CDys cardiac dysrhythmia
CEA carcinoembryonic antigen
 also carcinoembryonic enzyme
Cerv. cervical
 also cervix
CF cardiac failure
 also Caucasian female
 also cystic fibrosis
cg. centigram
CHB complete heart block
CHD congenital heart disease
 also coronary heart disease
Chem. chemotherapy
CHF congestive heart failure
CHO carbohydrate
Chol cholesterol
Chr chronic
CI cardiac index
 also cardiac insufficiency
 also cerebral infarction
CICU cardiac intensive care unit
CID carpal instability, dissociative
CIND carpal instability, non-dissociative
CIS carcinoma in situ
CI-XII 1st to 12th cranial nerve
CJD Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
C-JF carotid-jugular fistula
CK creatinine kinase
cl centiliter
Cl chloride
 also chlorine
 also clubbing
Cl.T clotting time
Clav. or Cl clavicle
cldy cloudy
CLL chronic lymphocytic leukemia
CM cardiac murmur
 also cardiac muscle
 also Caucasian male
cm. centimeter
CMal cerebral malaria
CMass center of mass
Cmc carpometacarpal
CMCJ carpometacarpal joint
CMem cell membrane
CML chronic myeloid leukemia
CMV cytomegalovirus
CN cranial nerve
CNS central nervous system
cnst. constipation
CO carbon monoxide
 also cardiac output
Co2 or CD carbon dioxide
COAD chronic obstructive airway disease
COLD chronic obstructive lung disease
comb. combination
 also combine
comm. communicable
comp. compound
 also compress
conc. concentrated
cons. consultation
cont. continued
 also contractions
COP center of pressure
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Cor heart
CP cerebral palsy
 also chest pain
CPAP continuous positive airway pressure
CpBy cardiopulmonary bypass
CPC clinicopathological conference
CPD cephalo-pelvic disproportion
CPK creatinine phosphokinase
CPPB continuous positive pressure breathing
CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPRS complex regional pain syndrome
CPT chest physical therapy
CR closed reduction
cran. cranial
CRD chronic respiratory disease
creat. or Crea creatinine
CRF case report form
 also chronic renal failure
CRP C-reactive protein
CRS catheter-related sepsis
CRT capillary refill time
 also cardiac resuscitation team
CRU cardiac rehabilitation unit
CRV central retinal vein
CRVO central retinal vein occlusion
Cs case
CSAVP cerebral subarachnoid venous pressure
CSD cat scratch disease
CSDB cat scratch disease bacillus
CSF cerebrospinal fluid
C-spine cervical spine
CT chest tube
 also computed axial tomography
CThr cerebral thrombosis
CTS carpal tunnel syndrome
CTSP called to see patient
CU cause unknown
CV cardiac volume
 also cardiovascular
 also Curriculum Vitae
CVA cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
 also costovertebral angle
CVC central venous catheters
CvD cardiovascular disease
CVL central venous line
CVP central venous pressure
CvS cardiovascular system
CWP cell wall protein
Cx cervix
 also culture
CxR chest x-ray
cyath. glassful
Cysto cystoscopy
  D Back to Top | Glossary Home  
d right (Lat. dexter)
D&C dilation and curettage
D&E dilation and evacuation
D&R dilation and radium implant
D&V diarrhoea and vomiting
D.P. dorsal pedia
d/c discontinue
D/DW dextrose in distilled water
 also distilled water
D/L decilter
D/S discharge summary
D/W dextrose in water
 also discussed with
D5LR 5% dextrose and lactated ringers
D5W 5% dextrose and sterile water
DAH diffuse alveolar hemorrhage
DAP distal airway pressure
db. decibel
DBE deep breathing exercise
DC discharges
 also discontinue
DD discharge diagnosis
DDx differential diagnosis
decr. decreased
decub. lying down
def. defacation
dehyd. dehydrated
Derm. Dermatology
DES Diethylstilbestrol
DH drug history
DI diabetes insipidus
 also diagnostic imaging
DIAG. diagnosis
diam. diameter
DIC disseminated coagulopathy
 also disseminated intravascular coagulation
diff. differential blood count
dil. dilute
dim. diminished
DIND delayed ischemic neurologic deficit
DIP distal interphalangeal (joint)
dis. disease
disch. discharge
disp. disposition
dist. distal
 also distilled
DIU death in utero
div. divorced
DJD degenerative joint disease
DKA diabetic ketoacidosis
DLE disseminated lupus erythematosis
DM diabetes mellitus
 also diastolic murmur
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
DNKA did not keep appointment
DNR do not recussitate
DNRCC do not recussitate comfort care
DOA dead on arrival
DOB date of birth
DOE dyspnea on exertion
Dors dorsal
DPL diagnostic peritoneal lavage
DPN deep peroneal nerve
DPT diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccine
DR delivery room
dr. dram
DRE digital rectal examination
drsg. dressing
DSE debutamine stress echocardiogram
DTR deep tendon reflexes
DT's delirium tremens
DU duodenal ulcer
DUB dysfunctional uterine bleeding
DUI driving under influence
Dx diagnosis
  E Back to Top | Glossary Home  
e without
E. coli Escherichia coli
e.g. for example (Lat. exempli gratia)
EAR estimated average requirements
EBL estimated blood loss
EBV Epstein-Barr virus
EBV-IM Epstein-Barr virus (infectious mononucleosis)
ECF extended care facility
 also extracellular fluid
ECHO echocardiogram
 also enterocytopathogenic human orphan virus
ECS endocervical scrape
ECT electroconvulsive therapy
ED emergency department
EDC estimated date of confinement
EDOD estimated date of delivery
EEG electroencephalogram
EENT see HEENT eyes, ears, nose, throat
EEX electrodiagnosis
EGA estimated gestational age
EGD esophago-gastroduodenoscopy
EKG or ECG electrocardiogram
elev. elevated
ELF elective low forceps
elix. elixir
EmBx endometrial biopsy
EMG electromyogram/electromyography
EMS emergency medical service
 also endometrial scrape
EMU early morning urine
En. enema
ENT ears, nose, throat
Eoc. eosinophiles
EOM extraocular movement
Ep epilepsy
Epis. episiotomy
Epis. LML left mediolateral episiotomy
Epis. Med. medial episiotomy
Epis. RML right mediolateral episiotomy
ER endoplasmic reticulum
ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ERP endoscopic retrograde pancreatography
ESR or sed. rate erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ESRD end-stage renal disease
EST electroshock therapy
et and
ETIOL. or Etio etiology
ETOH ethanol (alcohol)
EUA examine under anesthesia
EVAL evaluation
ex. example
 also exercise
Exp. Lap. exploratory laparotomy
expir expiration
 also expiratory
ext. external
 also extremity
EXT extraction
Ext. extract
ext. gen. external genitalia

 

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