Module 1B: Medical Terminology Flashcards
The Joint Commission (TJC)
Accrediting body that focuses on quality improvement and patient safety, certifying health care organizations and programs in the U.S. including hospitals and health care organizations that provide ambulatory and office-based surgery, behavioral health, home health care, laboratory, and nursing care center services.
DO NOT use “MS, MSO4”. Instead use….
Morphine
DO NOT use “MgSO4”. Instead use….
Magnesium sulfate
DO NOT use “abbreviated medication names”. Instead use….
Full medication name
DO NOT use “Nitro”. Instead use….
Nitroglycerin
DO NOT use “u, U, IU”. Instead use….
Units
DO NOT use “x3d”. Instead use….
mcg or microgram
DO NOT use “cc”. Instead use….
mL
DO NOT use “apothecary units”. Instead use….
Metric units
DO NOT use “od, O.D., OD”. Instead use….
Daily or intended time of administration
DO NOT use “q.d, qd, Q.D, QD, q1d, i/d”. Instead use….
Daily
DO NOT use “q.o.d., QOD”. Instead use….
Every other day
DO NOT use “Q6PM”. Instead use….
6 p.m. daily
DO NOT use “TIW, tiw”. Instead use….
3 times weekly
DO NOT use “HS”. Instead use….
half-strength, bedtime (hour of sleep)
DO NOT use “SC, SQ, sub q”. Instead use….
subcutaneously
DO NOT use “IN”. Instead use….
intranasal
DO NOT use “IJ”. Instead use….
injection
DO NOT use “OJ”. Instead use….
Orange juice
DO NOT use “@”. Instead use….
at
DO NOT use “&, +”. Instead use….
and
DO NOT use “/”. Instead use….
per
DO NOT use “AD, AS, AU”. Instead use….
right ear, left ear, both ears
DO NOT use “OD, OS, OU”. Instead use….
right eye, left eye, both eyes
DO NOT use “D/C, dc, d/c”. Instead use….
discharge or discontinue
Abd
Abdomen
ABGs
Arterial blood gases
a.c.
Before meals
ACLS
Advance cardiac life support
Ad lib
As desired
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
AKA
Above-the-knee amputation
AMA
Against medical advice
ASA
Aspirin
ASAP
As soon as possible
BE
Barium enema
BKA
Below-the-knee amputation
BM
Bowel movement
BMI
Body mass index
BP
Blood pressure
BPH
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
BPM
Beats per minute
BRP
Bathroom privileges
BSA
Body surface area
BUN
Blood urea nitrogen
Bx
Biopsy
c̄
With
C
Celsius
C&S
Culture and sensitivity
Ca
Calcium; cancer
CABG
Coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
Coronary artery disease
CBC
Complete blood count
CC
Chief complaint
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
cm
Centimeter
CMS
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
CNS
Central nervous system
CP
Chest pain
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
c/o
Complains of
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Csf
Cerebrospinal fluid
CT
Computed tomography
Cv
Cardiovascular
CVA
Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
CXR
Chest x-ray
d
Day
D&C
Dilation and curettage
D/C, dc
Discharge, discontinue
DM
Diabetes mellitus
DNR
Do not resuscitate
DOB
Date of birth
DTap
Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine
Dx
Diagnosis
ECG, EKG
Electrocardiogram
ED
Emergency department
EEG
Electroencephalogram
ENT
Ear, nose, and throat
F
Fahrenheit
FBS, FBG
Fasting blood sugar/glucose
f/u
Follow up
FUO
Fever of unknown origin
Fx
Fracture
GI
Gastrointestinal
GTT
Glucose tolerance test
gtt
Drop
GU
Genitourinary
GYN
Gynecology, gynecologist
H, hr
Hour
Hct
Hematocrit
HEENT
Head, ears, eyes, nose, throat
HF
Heart failure
Hgb
Hemoglobin
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
HPV
Human papillomavirus
HTN
Hypertension
Hx
History
I&D
Incision and drainage
I&O
Intake and output
ICU
Intensive care unit
IUD
Intrauterine device
K
Potassium
KUB
Kidneys, ureters, bladder
L
Liter or left
lb
Pound
LLE
Left lower extremity
LLL
Left lower lobe
LLQ
Left lower quadrant
LMP
Last menstrual period
LUE
Left upper extremity
LUQ
Left upper quadrant
mg/dL
Milligrams per deciliter
MI
Myocardial infarction
mL
Milliliters
MM
Mucous membrane
mm Hg
Millimeters of mercury
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
MS
Multiple sclerosis
N/V
Nausea/vomiting
NB
Newborn
NG
Nasogastric
NKA/NKDA
No known allergies/No known drug allergies
NPO
Nothing by mouth (nil per os)
NS
Normal saline
NSAID
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
OB
Obstetrics
OC
Oral contraceptive
OOB
Out of bed
OP
Outpatient
OT
Occupational therapy/therapist
OTC
Over-the-counter
PA
Posteroanterior, physician assistant
p.c.
After meals (post cibos)
PE
Physical examination, pulmonary embolism
PID
Pelvic inflammatory disease
PMS
Premenstrual syndrome
PO
By mouth
PRN
As needed
PT
Physical therapy/therapist
pt
Patient
R
Right
RA
Rheumatoid arthritis
RBC
Red blood cell
RLE
Right lower extremity
RLL
Right lower lobe
RLQ
Right lower quadrant
R/O
Rule out
ROM
Range of motion
RT
Respiratory therapy/therapist
RUE
Right upper extremity
RUQ
Right upper quadrant
Rx
Prescription
s̄
Without
SOB
Shortness of breath
Stat
Immediately
STI
Sexually transmitted infection
Sx
Symptoms
T&A
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
TB
Tuberculosis
TIA
Transient ischemic attack
Tx
Treatment
UA
Urinalysis
URI
Upper respiratory infection
UTI
Urinary tract infection
VS
Vital signs
WBC
White blood cell
WNL
Within normal limits
YO, y/o
Years old
#
Pounds
↑
Increase
↓
Decrease
♂
Male
♀
Female
‘
Feet
“
Inches
°
Degrees
Combining vowel
Sometimes, when a root attaches to a prefix or suffix, it needs an extra vowel to combine the components. This vowel is known as a combining vowel.
EX: hem- means blood, and -rrhage means excessive flow. The “o” between the two creates the medical term hemorrhage, meaning excessive blood flow.
Combining form
A combining form is a word root with a combining vowel. Often, the combining vowel makes the medical term easier to pronounce. In most cases, the combining vowel is an “o,” but it is sometimes “i” or “e.”
A combining form should be used when the last word root in a medical term connects with a suffix that begins with a consonant. When the word root connects with a suffix that starts with a vowel, just the word root should be used.
When the suffix begins with a vowel, the word root is used. Examples include cephalalgia and colectomy. However, when the suffix begins with a consonant, the combining form is used, as in colostomy and cephalodynia. When connecting two word roots, always use the connecting vowel, even if the following word root begins with a vowel.
Aden
Gland
Pancreat
Pancreas
Thyr
Word Root
Thyroid gland
