MedTerm) Clinical Flashcards
+
positive.
-
negative.
1°
primary.
2°
secondary.
<
less than.
=
equal.
>
greater than.
?
questionable.
a
before.
A & A
awake and aware
A & O
alert and oriented
A & W
alive and well
A&O x 1
alert and oriented to person only.
A&O x 2
alert and oriented to person and place.
A&O x 3
alert and oriented to person, place and time.
A&O x 4
alert and oriented to person, place, time and event.
A-FIB
atrial fibrillation.
AAA
abdominal aortic aneurysm.
ABC
airway, breathing, circulation.
ABD
abdomen (abdominal).
ACL
anterior cruciate ligament
ACLS
advanced cardiac life support.
ad lib
as desired or at liberty
AKA
above the knee amputation.
ALL
allergy or acute leukocytic leukemia
ALS
advanced life support.
AMA
against medical advice, American Medical Association or advanced maternal age
AMS
altered mental status.
AMT
amount.
APPROX
approximately.
ASA
aspirin.
ASSOC
associated.
ASTOL
as tolerated
B1
Thiamine HCL Vitamin or first degree (Stage I) burn
sunburn is an example.
B2
Riboflavin Vitamin or 2nd degree (Stage II) burn
Blistering is present.
B3
3rd degree (Stage III) burn
A third degree burn, tissue charring is present.
B4
4th degree (Stage IV) burn
A fourth degree burn, most tissue destroyed.
B6
Byridoxine HCL Vitamin Pyridoxine HCL Vitamin
B7
Biotin Vitamin
B8
Adenosine Phosphate Vitamin
BaE
barium enema
BG
blood glucose.
BID
two times per day
BILAT
bilateral.
BKA
below the knee amputation.
BLS
basic life support.
BM
bowel movement.
BP
blood pressure
(Average intra/vascular ‘BP’ is 120/80mm/Hg above atmospheric pressure. Low ‘BP’ is 90/60 or lower; High ‘BP’ is 140/90 or higher)
BS
blood sugar, bowel sounds, before sleep, breath sounds, Blue Shield
BS
breath sounds.
BT
body temperature, bleeding time, brain tumor
BUN
blood urea nitrogen
BVM
bag-valve-mask.
BX
biopsy or Blue Cross
c
with.
C-SECTION
caesarean section.
C-SPINE
cervical spine.
CA
cancer.
CABG
coronary artery bypass graft.
CAD
coronary artery disease.
CATH
catheter.
CBC
complete blood count
CC or C/O
chief complaint or chief component
CEPH
cephalic.
CF
cystic fibrosis
CHF
congestive heart failure
CL
contact lenses
CNA
chart not available, certified nurse’s aide
CNS
central nervous system.
CO
cardiac output or computer order
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
(asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, bronchiectasis)
CP
cerebral palsy, chest pain
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid.
CT
cat scan.
CVA
cerebrovascular accident (stroke).
D & D
diarrhea and dehydration
D5W
5% dextrose in water.
DAD
drug administration device
DAT
diet as tolerated
DD
differential diagnosis
(differentiating between diseases ‘signs & symptoms’ or their etiology ‘cause’)
DKA
diabetic ketoacidosis.
DNR
do not resuscitate.
DNS
did not show
DOA
dead on arrival.
DPT
diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus
(pertussis is also known as whooping cough, tetanus is also known as lock jaw)
DT
delirium tremens.
DX(or Dx) & PX
diagnosis and prognosis
DZ
disease or dozen
ECG
electrocardiogram.
EEG
electroencephalogram.
EKG or ECG
electrocardiogram
EMG
electromyography
(diagnostic procedure of recording muscle electricity - muscle fire power)
ENT
ear, nose, and throat
ESWL
extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
ET
endotracheal.
ETOH
ethanol (alcohol).
ETT
endotracheal tube.
EXT
external (extension).
F or ♀
female.
FB
foreign body.
FBS
fasting blood sugar
FLEX
flexion.
FOD
free of disease
Fx
fracture or fractional urine
g
gram(s).
GH
growth hormone
GI
gastrointestinal or granuloma inguinal
GI
gastrointestinal.
GSW
gunshot wound.
GTT
drop, drops, or glucose tolerance test
gtts
drops.
GU
genitourinary.
GYN
gynecology (gynecological).
H/A
headache.
H1
herpes simplex type 1 (oral herpes)
H2
herpes simplex type 2 (genital herpes)
HAV
Hepatitis A virus
HBV
Hepatitis B virus
HCV
Hepatitis C virus
HEENT
head, eyes, ears, nose, throat.
HI, HOH
Hearing Impaired or hard of hearing
HR
heart rate (hour).
HTN
hypertension.
Hx
history.
I & O
intake and output
ICP
intracranial pressure.
ICU
intensive care unit.
ID
infectious disease, initial dose, intradermal
IM
intramuscular.
IV
intravenous
JVD
jugular vein distension.
kg
kilogram.
KUB
kidney, ureter, bladder
KVO
keep vein open.
L
left.
L&D
labor and delivery.
L-SPINE
lumbar spine.
L/S-SPINE
lumbar sacral spine.
LAT
lateral.
lb.
pound.
LBP
low blood pressure
(starts at 90/60 mm/Hg above atmospheric pressure of 760:’or lower’)
LLQ
left lower quadrant.
LMP
last menstrual period.
LOC
level of consciousness (loss of consciousness).
LR
lactated ringers.
LUQ
left upper quadrant.
M or ♂
male.
MAST
military anti-shock trousers.
mcg
microgram(s).
MD
muscular dystrophy, manic depression, mental deficiency, Medical Doctor
MED
medicine.
mg
milligram(s).
MI
myocardial infarction (heart attack).
min
minimum / minute.
ml
milliliter
MMR
measles, mumps, and rubella
MS
multiple sclerosis, mitral stenosis, mental status (depends on context)
MS
mental status change.
MSO4
morphine.
MVC
motor vehicle crash.
N & V
nausea and vomiting
N/V
nausea/vomiting.
N/V/D
nausea/vomiting/diarrhea.
NAD
no apparent distress.
NC
nasal cannula.
NEB
nebulizer.
NKDA
no known drug allergies.
NPO
nothing by mouth
NRB
non-rebreather.
NS
normal saline.
NSR
normal sinus rhythm.
OB/GYN
obstetrics/gynecology.
OTC
over the counter
p
after.
PAC
premature atrial contraction.
PALP
palpation.
PE
physical exam, pulmonary embolism, pleural effusion
PE
pulmonary embolus.
PEARL
pupils equal and reactive to light.
PMHx
past medical history.
PO
orally.
PRB
partial rebreather.
PRN
as needed
PROM
partial range of motion
PT
patient.
PVC
premature ventricular contraction.
Q
every
QD
every day or once a day
QID
four times per day
R
right.
RBC
red blood cell (also refers to a red blood cell count)
RLQ
right lower quadrant.
ROS
review of systems
RR
respiration rate or recovery room
RUQ
right upper quadrant.
Rx
prescription, drug, medication, reaction
Rx
medicine.
RXN
reaction.
s
without.
S.O.S.
if necessary, if urgently required, may be repeated once
S/P
status post.
sig.
Let It Be Written, label, instructions
SOB
shortness of breath
SQ
subcutaneous.
ST
sinus tachycardia.
stat
immediate
STI
sexually transmitted Infections, skin test dose
SVT
supraventricular tachycardia.
SX
symptom, sign, surgery
Sx
symptom.
SZ
seizure.
T
temperature.
T-SPINE
thoracic spine.
TBC
tuberculosis, total blood (cell) count
TENS
transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation
TIA
transient ischemic attack
(Rapid blockage in carotid artery in the neck, that causes stroke symptoms. Typically, the clot suddenly passes through and the symptoms usually disappear: Sign of pending major stroke or CVA - cerebrovascular accident)
TKO
to keep open (refers to IV’s - same as KVO).
TPR
temperature, pulse, respiration
Tx
treatment.
UE
upper extremity
ung
ointment
UOA
upon our arrival.
URI
upper respiratory infection
US
ultrasound, unit secretary
UTD
up to date
UTI
urinary tract infection
VF
ventricular fibrillation.
VO
verbal order
VS
vital signs.
VT
ventricular tachycardia.
WAP
wandering atrial pacemaker.
WBC
white blood cells or white blood count
What does ACU- refer to?
ACU- means sharp. It relates to acu/ity, which is the sharp/process of (seeing sharply or clearly), and acute, which means quick, sudden, or sharply.
What does AUTO- signify?
AUTO- means self. It is used in terms like auto/hypn/osis, which refers to self/sleep/condition of (simulated sleep in alpha brain state of consciousness), and aut/ism, meaning self/state of.
What does FLEX- indicate?
FLEX- means to bend. An example is ante/flex/ion, which refers to before/to bend or divert/process of (to decrease angle of joint).
Related term(s): -FLECT
What does HOLIST/O refer to?
HOLIST/O means whole. It is used in holist/ic medicine, which refers to whole/state of: remedy or drug (treating the whole individual - comprehensive total patient care).
Alternate spelling: HOLO-
What does HOMEO- mean?
HOMEO- means same, constant, or unchanged. It is used in homeo/path/y, which means same, constant, or unchanged/disease/process of.
What does HYPN/O signify?
HYPN/O means sleep. It appears in hypn/osis, which refers to sleep/condition (alpha state of brainwave patterns: this is not true sleep).
Related term(s): somn/o-
What does PHREN/O refer to?
PHREN/O means mind or diaphragm. It is used in phren/ia, which pertains to mind (mental disorder), and phren/ic, which pertains to diaphragm.
What is a MASSEUR?
MASSEUR is a French term for a male that gives massages.
Related term(s): MASSEUSE
What is the meaning of CHIRO-?
CHIRO- means hand. It is found in chiro/pract/or, which means hand/practice/one who (mano also means hand).
What is the meaning of IR/O?
IR/O means rainbow. It is found in ir/is (noun), which refers to rainbow, and ir/idescent, meaning rainbow/having or exhibiting.
WNL
within normal limits.
X & D
examination and diagnosis
YO (YOA)
years old (years of age).
~
approximately.
Ψ
psychiatric.
↑
upper (increased).
↓
lower (decreased).
∆
change.
