Medical Abbreviations A-Z

ā

before

abd

abdominal

ac

before meals

AD

right ear

AED

Automated External Defibrillation

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

AP

apical pulse

AU

both ears

AV

arteriovenous/atrioventricular

Ax

axilla, axillary, armpit

bid

twice a day

bil

bilateral (both sides)

BP

blood pressure

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

CA

cancer

Cath

catheter

CBC

complete blood count

CC

cheif complaint

CDC

Center for Disease Control

CF

Cystic Fibrosis

CHF

congestive heart failure

chol

cholesterol

CNS

Central Nervous System

co, c/o

complains of

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Cx

cervix, complication, complaint

D/C

discontinue, discharge

DDS

Doctor of Dental Surgery

dil

dilute, dissolve

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid

DNR

do not resuscitate

DO

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

DOA

dead on arrival

DOB

date of birth

DPT

diphtheria, pertussis,(whooping cough) tetanus

DVT

deep vein thrombosis

Dx, dx

diagnosis

EGG, EKG

electrocardiogram

EEG

electroencephalogram

EENT

ear, eye, nose, throat

et, etiol

etiology (cause of disease)

Ex, exam

examination

ext

extract, extraction, external

FBS

fasting blood sugar

FDA

Food and Drug Administration

FSH

follicle-stimulating hormone

FUO

fever of unknown origin

Fr, Fx

fracture

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

GI

gastrointestinal

Gyn

gynecology

HBP

high blood pressure

HBV

hepatitis B virus

HCG

human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone

hct

hematocrit

Hgb, Hb

hemoglobin

HIPPA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Set of federal regulations adopted to protect the confidentiality of patient information and the ability to retain health insurance coverage.

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus The HIV virus causes AIDS

HMO

health maintenance organization

HOSA

Health Occupations Students of America national organization for health science students

Hx, hx

history Example: (Hx: heart disease)

ICU

intensive care unit

ID

intradermal, infectious disease

IM

intramuscular

inf

infusion, inferior, infection

inj

injection

IV

intravenous "within vein"

jt

joint

K

potassium Potassium is needed for many body processes

L, l

liter - 1000 cc = 1000ml lumbar - spine anatomy

LDL

low-density lipoprotein

liq

liquid

LLQ

lower left quadrant

LMP

last menstrual period

LPN

licensed practical nurse graduate of a certificate nursing program requiring about 18 months to complete

LTC

long-term care type of health care system

mEq

milliequivalent: a unit of the amount of substance

Mg

magnesium

MI

myocardial infraction

mL, ml

milliliter

MN

midnight

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

MS

Multiple Sclerosis

N/C

no complaints

N/S, NS

normal saline

Na

sodium

NaCl

sodium chloride

NIH

National Institutes of Health

NKA

No known allergies

NPO

nothing by mouth

Ob, Obs

obstetrics

od

overdose

OD

right eye, Doctor of Optometry

OP

outpatient

OPD, OPC

outpatient department, outpatient clinic

OR

operating room

OS

left eye

os

mouth

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OTC

over the counter

OU

each eye

w/0

without

sc

subcutaneous

SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sig

Give the following directions

SOB

Shortness of Breath

sol

solution

sos

if necessary

ss

one-half

S/S

signs and symptoms

staph

staphylococcus

stat

immediately, at once

strep

streptococcus infection

susp

suspension

Sx

symptom, sign

TB

tuberculosis

tbsp

tablespoon

tid

three times a day

TPR

temperature, pulse, respirations

TSH

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

tsp

teaspoon

UA, U/A

urinalysis

URI

Upper Respiratory Infection

UTI

urinary tract infection

VD

venereal disease

VF

ventricular fibrillation

VS

vital sign

WBC

white blood cells

WHO

World Health Organization

WNL

Within normal limits

XR

X-Ray