Medical Abbreviations Flashcards
a, an
Not, without, less
ab
away from or off
ad
indicating toward or in the direction of
bi, bin
two
brady
slow
de
remove, down, from
di
two, twice, double
dia
though, throughout
dif, dis
reverse, separate
dys
abnormal, painful, difficult
ec, ecto
outer, outside, external
epi
above, surrounding
endo
within
hemi
the right or left half of the body
hyper
above normal, high
hypo
below, less than normal
inter
between
intra
inside
macro
large
Mast/o
meaning the breast
meta
behind, concept of after
micro
small
myo
muscle
neo
new
oste/o
bone
post
after, behind
pre
before, anterior
sub
under, beneath
tachy
fast, rapid
trans
across
uni
one
-cyte
cell
-ectomy
cutting and removing
-itis
inflammation
-ion
denoting an action or condition
-oma
tumor
-osis
condition, process, action, diseased or abnormal condition
-ostomy
surgical creation of an opening in an organ for the removal of waste
-ology / -ologist
study of the subjected noted in the body of the word. A person who studies the subject of the body of the word
-otomy
incision, cutting into a part of the body
-phagia
eating, ingestion
-pexy
surgical fixation
-phasia
speech
-ptosis
downward displacement or position
-rrhea
flow or discharge
-scopy
study or examination
-tripsy
crushing
abdomin / o
abdomen, abdominal
aden / o
gland
arteri /o
artery / relationship to an artery
cardio
heart
encephal /o
brain
gastro
stomach
gloss /o
tongue
hepat /o
liver
Ile/o
Ileum
Lapar/o
wall of the abdomen
Neur/o
nerve or nervous system
Pulmon/o
Lung
a (medical abbreviation)
before
AED
Automated External Defibrillator
a.c.
before meals
ASA
Aspirin
AMA
Against medical advice
AMI
Acute myocardial infarction
ASHD
Arteriosclerotic heart disease
b.i.d.
twice a day
BP
Blood pressure
BS
Breath sounds, bowel sounds, blood sugar
BVM
Bag-valve-mask
c/o
complaining of
Ca
cancer / carcinoma
Cc
cubic centimeter
CC
Chief Complaint
CHF
Congestive heart failure
CO
Carbon monoxide
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema, chronic bronchitis)
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CSF
Cerebrospinal fluid
CVA
Cerebrovascular accident
CXR
Chest x-ray
d/c
discontinue
DM
Diabetes mellitus
DOA
Dead on arrival
DOB
Date of birth
Dx
Diagnosis
ECG, EKG
Electrocardiogram
e.g.
for example
ETA
Estimated time of arrival
ETOH
Alcohol (ethanol)
Fx
Fracture
GI
Gastrointestinal
GSW
Gunshot wound
gtt.
Drop
GU
Genitourinary
GYN
Gynecologic
h / hr.
hour
H/A
Headache
HEENT
Head, ears, eyes, nose, throat
Hg
Mercury
h/o
History of
hs
at bedtime
HTN
Hypertension
Hx
History
ICP
Intracranial pressure
ICU
Intensive care unit
IM
Intramuscular
IO
Intraosseous
JVD
Jugular vein distention
KVO
Keep vein open
L
Left or liter
LAC
Laceration
LOC
Level of consciousness
LR
Lactated Ringers solution
mcg
micrograms
NAD
No apparent distress
NC
Nasal cannula
NKA
No known allergies
npo
nothing by mouth
NRB
Non-rebreather mask
NS
Normal saline
NSR
Normal sinus rhythm
NTG
Nitroglycerin
N/V
Nausea / vomiting
02
Oxygen
OB
Obstetrics
OD
Overdose
OR
Operating room
PCN
Penicillin
PEA
Pulseless electrical activity
PERL
Pupils equal and reactive to light
PID
Pelvic inflammatory disease
PND
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
po
by mouth
PRN
As needed
PSVT
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Pt
Patient
PTA
Prior to arrival
PVC
Premature ventricular contraction
q.h.
every hour
q.i.d.
four times a day
R
Right
r/o
rule out
Rx or Tx
Treatment
SIDS
Sudden infant death syndrome
SOB
Shortness of breath
Stat.
Immediately
SVT
Supraventricular tachycardia
TIA
Transient ischemic attack
t.i.d.
three times a day
TKO
To keep open
V.S.
Vital signs
x
times
w/o or s
without
WNL
within normal limits
y/o or y.o.
years old
+
positive
_
negative
Change
