Week 1: Medical Abbreviations and Terms Flashcards
Abbreviation
a
Meaning
Before
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “a” is the abbreviation of “Ante” which is latin for “before.”)
Abbreviation
abd
Meaning
Abdomen or Abdominal
Abbreviation
abn
Meaning
Abnormal
Abbreviation
bid
Meaning
Two Times Daily
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “bid” is the abbreviation of “Bis In Die” which is latin for “twice a day.”)
Abbreviation
tid
Meaning
Three Times Daily
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “tid” is the abbreviation of “Ter In Die” which is latin for “thrice a day.”)
Abbreviation
amb
Meaning
Ambulate
Abbreviation
A+O
Meaning
Alert and Oriented
Abbreviation
B/P (or b/p)
Meaning
Blood Pressure
Abbreviation
BRP
Meaning
Bathroom Privileges
Abbreviation
HOH
Meaning
Hard of Hearing
Abbreviation
c/o
Meaning
Complaining of
Abbreviation
d
Meaning
Daily
Abbreviation
NPO
Meaning
Nothing by Mouth
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “NPO” is the abbreviation of “Nil Per Os” which is latin for literally “nothing through the mouth.”)
Abbreviation
DOB
Meaning
Date of Birth
Abbreviation
EKG
Meaning
Electrocardiogram
Abbreviation
Fx
Meaning
Fracture
Abbreviation
Hr
Meaning
Hour
Abbreviation
HR
Meaning
Heart Rate
Abbreviation
H+H
Meaning
Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
Abbreviation
HOB
Meaning
Head of Bed
Abbreviation
HTN
Meaning
Hypertension
Abbreviation
I+O
Meaning
Intake and Output
Abbreviation
UA
Meaning
Urinalysis
Abbreviation
UTI
Meaning
Urinary Tract Infection
Abbreviation
N+V (n/v)
Meaning
Nausea and Vomiting
Abbreviation
OTC
Meaning
Over the Counter
Abbreviation
PCN
Meaning
Penicillin
Abbreviation
PMH
Meaning
Past Medical History
Abbreviation
Hx
Meaning
History
Abbreviation
q
Meaning
Every
(* “q” is slowly being phased out.)
Abbreviation
Sub cut
(also: Sub q, SQ)
Meaning
Subcutaneous
(* “Sub q” and “SQ” is slowly being phased out.)
Abbreviation
ROM
Meaning
Range of Motion
Abbreviation
c
Meaning
With
Abbreviation
SL
Meaning
Sublingual
Abbreviation
STAT
Meaning
NOW!
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “stat” is the abbreviation of “Statim” which is latin for “immediately.”)
Abbreviation
WT
Meaning
Weight
Abbreviation
s/p
Meaning
Status Post
Abbreviation
ac
Meaning
Before Meals
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “ac” is the abbreviation of “Ante Cibum” which is latin for “before meals.”)
Abbreviation
pc
Meaning
After Meals
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “pc” is the abbreviation of “Post Cibum” which is latin for “after meals.”)
Abbreviation
w/c
Meaning
Wheelchair
Abbreviation
ABG
Meaning
Aterial Blood Gas
Abbreviation
PRN
Meaning
As Needed
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “PRN” is the abbreviation of “Pro Re Nata” which is latin for “circumstances require/as needed.”)
Abbreviation
ad lib
Meaning
As Desired
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “ad lib” is the abbreviation of “Ad Libitum” which is latin for “at pleasure.”)
Abbreviation
AMA
Meaning
Against Medical Advice
Abbreviation
amt
Meaning
Amount
Abbreviation
ASA
Meaning
Asprin
(or acetylsalicylic acid)
Abbreviation
BM
Meaning
Bowel Movement
Abbreviation
Tx
Meaning
Treatment
Abbreviation
CXR
Meaning
Chest X-ray
Abbreviation
dc
Meaning
Discontinued or Discharged
Abbreviation
DNR
Meaning
Do Not Resuscitate
Abbreviation
ea
Meaning
Each
Abbreviation
ETOH
Meaning
Alcohol
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “ETOH” is an abbreviation for the word “ethanol” or “ethyl alcohol.”
Abbreviation
GI
Meaning
Gastrointestinal
Abbreviation
GU
Meaning
Genitourinary
Abbreviation
WNL
Meaning
Within Normal Limits
Abbreviation
NKDA
Meaning
No Known Drug Allergies
Abbreviation
LOC
Meaning
Level of Consciousness
Abbreviation
PNA
Meaning
Pneumonia
Abbreviation
VS
Meaning
Vital Signs
Abbreviation
NG
Meaning
Nasogastric
Abbreviation
OOB
Meaning
Out of Bed
Abbreviation
PO
Meaning
By Mouth
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “po” is the abbreviation of “Per Os” which is latin for “by mouth.”)
Abbreviation
pt
Meaning
Patient
Abbreviation
R/O (r/o)
Meaning
Rule Out
Abbreviation
RR
Meaning
Respiratory Rate
Abbreviation
s
Meaning
Without
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “s” is the abbreviation of “Sine” which is latin for “without.”)
Abbreviation
SOB
Meaning
Shortness of Breath
Abbreviation
Sx
Meaning
Symptoms
Abbreviation
ADLs
Meaning
Activities of Daily Living
Abbreviation
GCS
Meaning
Glasgow Coma Scale
(The most common scoring system used to describe the level of consciousness in a person following a traumatic brain injury. It is used to help gauge the severity of an acute brain injury.)
Abbreviation
hs
Meaning
Hour of Sleep
Term
Serum
Definition
- clear, yellowish fluid from blood before clotting
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “serum” is latin for “whey.”)
Term
Serosanguineous
Definition
- containing or relating to both blood and the liquid part of blood (serum).
(Jeff’s Fun Fact:
“sero-“ means “serum”
“sanguine” means “blood”
“-ous” means “pertaining to”)
Term
Sanguineous
Definition
- containing to relating to blood
(Jeff’s Fun Fact:
“sanguine” means “blood”
“-ous” means “pertaining to”)
Term
Dysphasia
Definition
- difficulty speaking
Possibly due to brain lesion or neuro development disorder
(Jeff’s Fun Fact:
“dys-“ means “difficult/bad”
“phasia” means “speech”)
Term
Dysphagia
Definition
- difficulty swallowing or eating
(Jeff’s Fun Fact:
“dys-“ means “difficult/bad”
“phagia” means “swallowing or eating”)
Term
Aphagia
Definition
- inability to swallow or eat
(Jeff’s Fun Fact:
“a-“ means “no/without”
“phagia” means “swallowing or eating”)
Term
Aphasia
Definition
- inability to speak
(Jeff’s Fun Fact:
“a-“ means “no/without”
“phasia” means “speech”)
Term
Pallor
Definition
- pale color of skin
(Jeff’s Fun Fact: “pallor” originates from the latin word “pallere” which means “be pale.”
Term
Slough
Definition
- shed mass of dead tissue
Term
Purulent
Definition
- containing or discharging of pus
(Jeff’s Fun Fact:
“purul-“ means “pus”)
Term
Exudate
Definition
- fluid released from body
can be pus / serosanguineous
Term
Dehiscence
Definition
- bursting open from the suture line
Term
Approximated
Definition
- tissues brought together to a suture line
Term
Distal
Definition
- distant from the trunk of the body
Term
Proximal
Definition
- closer to the trunk of the body
Term
Vesicle
Definition
- fluid (or air) filled sac or cavity in the body
Term
Abduction
Definition
- movement going away from the trunk of the body (or midline)
Term
Adduction
Definition
- movement coming toward the trunk of the body (or midline)
Term
Pronation
Definition
- rotation of palms facing downward
Note: Lying prone / belly on the floor
Term
Supination
Definition
- rotation of palms facing upwards
Note: Lying supine / spine on the floor
