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A - E ·  F - L ·  M - Q ·  R - Z ·  Organization & Group Acronyms 
  M Back to Top | Glossary Home  
m male
 also married
 also mass
 also meter
 also molar
 also mother
 also murmur
m. minim
m.a.s. patient is disagreeable and uncooperative
m.b. mix well
m.g.r. murmurs, gallops, or rubs
M.R.D. medical records department
M.R.L. medical record librarian
M.T. medical technologist/technician
 also muscles and tendons
MA mental age
mac. macerated
MACE major adverse clinical event
macro. macrocytic
 also macroscopic
MAE major arrhythmic events
MAL malignant
MAP mean arterial pressure
max. maxillary
 also maximum
MBC maximum breathing capacity
mcg. microgram
MCH mean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCHC mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
MCL midclavicular line
MCP metacarpophalangeal joint
MCV mean corpuscular volume
MD muscular dystrophy
MDI metered dose inhaler
Mdnt. midnight
MDS myelodysplastic syndrome
ME medical examiner
 also middle ear
MEC medical emergency clinic
MED minimum effective dose
Med. medicine
MEN multiple endocrine neoplasia
mEq./l milliequivalents per liter
MERRF myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red muscle fibers
MET metabolic equivalent
Mets. metastasis
MG myasthenia gravis
Mg. magnesium
mg. milligram
mg.%; milligrams per 100 cc
mg/dl milligrams per deciliter
MGCT malignant granular cell tumor
MGF maternal grandfather
MGGF maternal great grandfather
MGJ mucogingival Junction
MH marital history
MHC or HLA major histocompatibility complex
micro microcytic
 also microscopic
MICU medical intensive care unit
min minute
Mitr.I mitral insufficiency
Ml mitral insufficiency
 also myocardial infarction
ml. milliliter
MLF medial longitudinal fasciculus
MM mucous membrane
mm muscles
mm. millimeter
MMPI Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
MmR Mumps, measles, Rubella
Mn. manganese
 also midnight
MNeo or MNpl malignant neoplasm
MOC maintenance of certification
mod moderate
mods multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
mol. wt. molecular weight
MOM milk of magnesia
mono. monocyte
MP metacarpophalangea
 also metacarpophalangeal
MPA malpractice attorney
Mr. medial rectus
 also mental retardation
 also mitral regurgitation
MRA magnetic resonance angiography
MRCP magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MRM modified radical mastectomy
MRN magnetic resonance neurography
mRNA messenger RNA
MRSA Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
MRV magnetic resonance venography
ms mitral stenosis
MS morphine sulfate
 also multiple sclerosis
Ms murmurs
MSL midsternal line
mss massage
MSU midstream urine
MT metacarpophalangeal joint
mtDNA mitochondrial DNA
MVA motor vehicle accident
MVD microvascular decompression
MVP mitral valve prolapse
MVR mitral valve replacement
MVV maximum voluntary ventilation
  N Back to Top | Glossary Home  
N&V nausea and vomiting
N&W normal and well
n. nerve
N.P. Neuropsychiatry
N.S. nervous system
N/A not applicable
N/T numbness & tingling
N2 nitrogen
N2O nitrous oxide (anesthetic)
NA not available
Na sodium
NaCl sodium chloride
NAD no abnormality detected
 also no apparent distress
NAP neutrophil alkaline phosphatase
NB newborn
nb note well
NBM or n.p.o. nothing by mouth (Lat. nil per oris)
NBS normal bowel sounds
 also normal breath sounds
NCT nerve conduction test
NEC necrotising enterocolitis
NED no evidence of disease
neg. negative
NER no evidence of recurrence
NERD no evidence of recurrent disease
Neur. Neurology
NGT nasogastric tube
NI no insurance
NIC neonatal intensive care
NICU neonatal intensive care unit
NIDDM non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, type II
NIP no infection present
 also no inflammation present
NKA no known allergies
NM neuromuscular
NMR nuclear magnetic resonance (scan)
noct. nocturnal
NOS not otherwise specified
NP neuropsychiatric
NPH normal pressure hydrocephalus
 also NPH insulin (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn/Zinc)
NPN nonprotein nitrogen (BUN and creatinine)
NS Neurosurgery
 also nonspecific
Ns. nerves
NSA no significant abnormality
NSAID non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drug
NSD normal spontaneous delivery
NSR normal sinus rhythm
NST non-stress test
NSVD normal spontaneous vaginal delivery
NTG nitroglycerine
NTP normal temperature and pressure
nullip never gave birth
NV next visit
NVD nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
NWB non-weight bearing
NYD not yet diagnosed
  O Back to Top | Glossary Home  
o none
 also without
O oedema
 also oral
O&P ova and parasites (stool exam)
O. pint
O.D. right eye (Lat. oculus dexter)
O.L. left eye (Lat. oculus sinister)
O.M. otitis media
O.S. left eye
O.T. occupational therapy
 also old tuberculin
O/D overdose
O/E on examination
O2 oxygen
O2 cap. oxygen capacity
O2 sat. oxygen saturation
OA osteoarthritis
OB or OBG Obstetrics
OB/GYN Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obs observation
OBS organic brain syndrome
OC on call
 also oral contraceptive
OCC. occasional
 also occipital
OCD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCP oral contraceptive pill
od once daily
OGTT oral glucose tolerance test
OH occupational history
 also overhang (dental restoration)
OH(17-) or 17 OH 17 hydroxy steroid
OHD organic heart disease
OHI oral hygiene instruction
oint. ointment
OMS organic mental syndrome
OOB out of bed
Op. operation
OPC outpatient clinic
OPD outpatient department
Ophth. Ophthalmology
opt. best (Lat. optimus)
OR open reduction
 also operating room
OR-IF or ORIF open reduction with internal fixation
ORT operating room technician
Ortho. Orthopaedic Surgery
os bone (Lat. ossa)
 also mouth (Lat. oris)
 also opening
ot. ear
OTC over-the-counter (pharmaceuticals)
Oto Otolaryngology
OU both eyes
 also each eye (Lat. oculus uterqie)
OV office visit
OXPHOS oxidative phosphorylation
oz. ounce
  P Back to Top | Glossary Home  
P after
 also phosphorus
 also pulse
p & a percussion and auscultation
P&N Psychiatry and Neurology
p.c. after meals (Lat. post cenam)
P.M. afternoon (Lat. post meridiem)
 also post-mortem
p.o. or per/os by mouth (Lat. per oris)
p.o.d. postoperative day
p.r. per rectum
p.r.m. according to circumstances
p.r.n. as often as necessary (Lat. pro re nata)
P.T. physical therapy
 also posterior tibial artery
 also pulse
p/c presenting complaint
P2 pulmonic second heart sound
PA physician's assistant
P-A posteroanterior
PA view posterioranterior view on x-ray
PA(S)P pulmonary artery (systolic) pressure
PABA para-aminobenzoic acid
PAC premature atrial, auricular contraction
PaCO2 arterial carbon dioxide tension pressure
PACU post anesthesia care unit
PAF paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
palp. palpable
 also palpate
 also palpated
PANDAS pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococci
PaO2 alveolar oxygen pressure
Pap Papanicolaou test (pap smear)
PAP pulmonary artery pressure
Para paraplegic
 also prior births
paren. parenterally
PARU post anesthesia recovery unit
PAS p-aminosalicylic acid
 also pulmonary artery systolic pressure
 also parental alienation syndrome
PAT paroxysm atrial tachycardia
 also pregnancy at term
Path. Pathology
PAWP pulmonary artery wedge pressure
Pb lead
PB peripheral blood
PBC primary biliary cirrhosis
PBI protein bound iodine
PBPs Penicillin-binding Proteins
PCA patient controlled anesthesia pump
PCL posterior cruciate ligament
PCO2 carbon dioxide concentration
PCP pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
 also primary care physician
PCR polymerase chain reaction
PCV packed cell volume (of blood)
PD perinatal death
 also peritoneal dialysis
 also pupillary distance
PDA patent ductus arteriosus
PDN private duty nurse
PDR Physician's Desk Reference
pdr. powder
PE pelvic examination
 also physical examination
 also pulmonary embolism
PEA pelvic examination under anesthesia
Ped. Pediatrics
PEEP positive end expiratory pressure
PEFR peek expiratory flow rate
PEG pneumoencephalogram
PEN Penicillin
per through
 also by
peri perineal
PERLA pupils equal and responding to light & accomodation
PERRLA pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation (normal)
PET positron emission tomography
PF push fluids
PFC persistent fetal circulation
PFM porcelain fused to metal
PFT pulmonary function test
PG pseudogout (chondrocalcinosis)
PGF paternal grandfather
pH hydrogen ion concentration
 also potential of hydrogen
PH past history
 also pulomnary hypertension
pharm pharmacy
PHN postherpetic neuralgia
PHYS. physical
 also physiology
PI present illness
 also pulmonary insufficiency
PICA posterior inferior coronary artery
PICC peripherially inserted central catheter
PICU pulmonary intensive care unit
PICVA percutaneous in situ coronary venous arterialization
PID pelvic inflammatory disease
PIH pregnancy-induced hypertension
PIL peripheral intravenous line
PIP proximal interphalangeal (joint)
Pit. Pitocin
PKU phenylkentonuria
Plac. placenta
plts. platelets
PM petit mal
PM&R Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
PMD private medical doctor
PMH past medical history
PMN polymorphonuclear
PMT premenstrual tension
PN poorly nourished
 also practical nurse
PNC premature nodal contraction
 also prenatal clinic
PND paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
 also post nasal drip
pneu. pneumo
 also pneumonia
PNI peripheral nerve injury
PNS peripheral nervous system
PNX pneumothorax
PO2 oxygen pressure (or tension)
POC product of conception
pof pillow on face
POI post operative instructions
polys polymorphonuclear leukocytes
POMR problem oriented medical record
poplit. popliteal
pos. positive
post. posterior
POSTOP. postoperative
pot. or K potassium
PP per protocol
pp post partum
 also post prandial
PPBS post prandial blood sugar
PPD purified protein derivative (of tuberculin)
PPF protein plasma fractional
PPH post partum hemorrhage
 also primary pulmonary hypertension
ppm parts per million
PPP peripheral pulses palpable
PPPG post prandial plasma glucose
PPS plasma protein solution
ppt part per trillion
PR Proctology
PRBC packed red blood cells
PRE progressive resistive exercise
prem premature
pre-op preoperative
prep. prepare for/as
PRICE protection, relative rest, ice, compression, elevation
primip. first pregnancy
pro. time prothrombin time
prod. productive
Prog. prognosis
PROM passive range of motion
 also premature rupture of membranes
pron. pronation
 also pronator
pros. prostate
 also prostatic
prosth. prosthesis
prot. protein
 also Protestant
PrP prion protein
PRV polycythaemia rubra vera
PS Plastic Surgery
 also psychotic
 also pulmonary stenosis
PSA Posterior Superior Alveolar (oral injection site)
 also prostate-specific antigen
PSH past surgical history
psi pounds per square inch
PSMA progressive spinal muscular atrophy
PSS progressive systemic sclerosis
PSV pressure support ventilation
PSVT paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Psych. Psychiatry
PT physical therapy
 also prothrombin time
pt. patient
PTA percutaneous, transluminal angioplasty
 also prior to admission/arrival
PTB patellar tendon bearing
PTC percutaneous transhepatic, cholangiography
PTCA percutaneous transluminal coronary, angioplasty (balloon angioplasty)
PTH parathyroid hormone
PTT partial thromboplastin time
PTTK partial thromboplastin time with kaolin
PTX pneumothorax
PU pregnancy urine
PUD peptic ulcer disease
PUO pyrexia of unknown origin
PUPPP pruritic urticarial papules & plaques of pregnancy
PUVA psoralen ultraviolet A
PV per vaginam
 also peripheral vascular
 also plasma volume
PV bleed per vagina bleed
PVASI pelvic vascular injury
PVC premature ventricular contraction
PVD peripheral vascular disease
PVL postoperative visual loss
PVR Proliferative Vitreal Retinopathy
 also pulmonary vascular resistance
PVT previous trouble
PWB% partial weight bearing with percent
Px physical examination
  Q Back to Top | Glossary Home  
q each/every (Lat. quaque)
q.d. once a day
 also every day (Lat. quaque in die)
q.h. every hour
q.h.s. every bedtime
q.i.d. four times a day
q.i.w. four times a week
q.l. as much as desired
q.n.s. or QNS quantity not sufficient
q.o.d. every other day
q.o.n. every other night
q.p. as much as you please
q.q. each
 also every (Lat. quaque)
q.q.h. or qqh or q4H every four hours (Lat. quaque quarta hora)
q.s. quantity sufficient
q.v. as much as you wish
q.w. every week
q2H every two hours
qhs once in the evening (drug dosing)
qn every night (Lat. quaque nox)
qt. quart
qts. drops
quad. quadriplegic
quant. quantitative
 also quantity

 

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