Color Prefixes, Suffixes, and Abbreviations

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering medical color prefixes, professional titles, common abbreviations, directional terminology, and word combinations from Lessons 9 through 12.

albus

White; from the Latin origin albus

albino

A genetic condition causing a lack of color or pigmentation

chloro

Green; from the Greek origin chloros

chlorosis

A condition characterized by a green look brought about by a lack of red blood cells

chrom

Color; from the Greek origin chroma

chromatism

Abnormal pigmentation

cirrhos

Yellow; from the Greek origin kirrhos

cirrhosis

A yellow condition of the liver occurring during liver failure, resulting from the liver's inability to process bilirubin

jaundice

A condition where the skin or eyes turn yellow

cyano

Blue; from the Greek origin kyanos

cyanosis

A condition of blue skin occurring in people lacking adequate perfusion of oxygenated blood

erythr

Red; from the Greek origin erythros

erythema

A flush or redness, often occurring in the mandibular region (cheeks)

leuko

White; from the Greek origin leukos

leukocyte

A white blood cell involved in fighting infection

melano

Black; from the Greek origin melan

melanoma

A malignant dark tumor

polio

Gray; from the Greek origin polios

poliomyelitis

Inflammation of the gray matter of the brain and at the spinal cord

purpura

Purple; porphyria

purpurinuria

A condition characterized by pigment compounds in the urine

rhodo

Rose; from the Greek origin rhodon

Rhodococcus

A microscopic rose-colored bacterium found in the feces of plant-eating animals

rubeo

Red; from the Latin origin rubesco

rubella

German measles, characterized by red sores

xantho

Yellow; from the Greek origin xanthos

xanthodont

Yellow teeth

CMA

Certified Medical Assistant; works in a doctor's office assisting in exams and office work

RMA

Registered Medical Assistant

CNA

Certified Nursing Aide or Assistant; trained to work with nursing home patients

EMT

Emergency Medical Technician; provides emergency care away from a hospital setting

LVN

Licensed Vocational Nurse; supervised directly by a registered nurse

LPN

Licensed Practical Nurse

MD

Doctor of Medicine

ME

Medical Examiner; primarily required to pronounce a person dead or decide if an autopsy is warranted

MLT

Medical Lab Technician or Technologist; performs lab tests and phlebotomy

NP

Nurse Practitioner; assists physicians and may write orders, prescriptions, and diagnoses

OT

Occupational Therapist; assists patients in recovering daily activity skills

PA

Physician Assistant; assists physicians and may write orders and diagnose

PT

Physical Therapist; helps patients recover lost motor function due to illness or injury

RHIT

Registered Health Information Technician; manages medical records

RN

Registered Nurse; performs nursing tasks, administration, and oversees LPNs

RRT

Registered Respiratory Therapist; provides respiratory care, blood gas, and ventilator management

a

Before; from the Latin ante

aa

Of each; from the Latin ana

a.c.

Before meals; from the Latin ante cibum

ADL

Activities of daily living

ad lib

As desired

AROM

Active range of motion; denotes normal full motion

BID

Two times a day; from the Latin bis in die

BP

Blood pressure; recorded as systolic (during contraction) and diastolic (at rest) beats

BRP

Bathroom privileges

c̅

With; indicated by a small c with a line over the top

cath

Catheter; a tubular instrument allowing passage of fluid from or into a body cavity

CBR

Complete bed rest

cc

Cubic centimeter; exactly equal to a milliliter

CHF

Congestive heart failure; a condition where too much fluid presses against the lungs and heart

c/o

Complains of

DC

Discontinue; meaning to stop

DX

Diagnosis; an educated guess as to what is wrong with a patient

gtt

Drop; from the Latin gutta

HOB

Head of bed

HS

Hour of sleep; used for bed-time medication orders

I/O

Intake and output

IV

Intravenous; placement of a catheter into a vein

NOC

At night; from the Latin nocte

NPO

Nothing by mouth; stands for nothing per oral

QD

Every day; from the Latin quaque die

QID

Four times a day; from the Latin quater in die

QNS

Quantity not sufficient; from the Latin quantum non sufficit

RX

Prescription; stands for recipe of prescription

s̅

Without; from the Latin sine

SOB

Shortness of breath

stat

Immediately; from the Latin statim

TID

Three times a day; from the Latin ter in die

TPR

Temperature, pulse, and respirations

UP

Universal precautions; treat all patients as if they are infectious

VS

Vital signs; includes blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respirations

ABG

Arterial blood gas; a blood test usually drawn from an artery to evaluate oxygenation

C&S

Culture and sensitivity; checks for bacterial growth and appropriate antibiotics

CXR

Chest X-ray

Hgb

Hemoglobin; part of a red blood cell responsible for carrying oxygen

HCT

Hematocrit; evaluates blood volume in relation to cell volume

K+

Potassium

NaHCO3

Sodium bicarbonate; indicative of a patient's pH acid base balance

Anterior

Front side of the body

Distal

Farthest point away from a particular area or center of the body

Dorsal

Backside of the body

High Fowler’s

Sitting position at a $90^{\circ}$ angle

Inferior

Below another structure

Medial

Middle or center

Posterior

Rear or back of something

Prone

To lie face down on the front side

Proximal

Nearest point to a particular area

Superior

Above another structure

Supine

To lie on the back

Transverse

To go across, lateral, or side to side

Myalgia

Muscle + pain

Osteoporosis

Bone + porous + condition of

Dermatitis

Skin + inflammation