medical terminology + abbreviations

aden/o

gland (root)

carcin/o

cancer (root)

cardi/o

heart (root)

chem/o

chemical (root)

cis/o

to cut, on the same side of (root)

dermat/o

skin (root)

enter/o

intestines (root)

gastr/o

stomach (root)

gynec/o

female (root)

hemat/o

blood (root)

hydr/o

water (root)

immun/o

immune (root)

laryng/o

larynx, throat (root)

nephr/o

kidney (root)

neur/o

nerve (root)

opthalm/o

eye (root)

ot/o

ear (root)

path/o

disease (root)

pulmon/o

lungs (root)

rhin/o

nose (root)

a-/an-

no, not, without, absence of (prefix)

anti-

against (prefix)

auto-

self (prefix)

dys-

abnormal, difficult, painful (prefix)

ex-

out (prefix)

hyper-

above normal, excessive (prefix)

neo-

new (prefix)

pan-

all (prefix)

peri-

around (prefix)

post-

after, behind (prefix)

supra-

above (prefix)

tetra-

four (prefix)

-ac

pertaining to (suffix)

-graphy

process of recording (suffix)

-scopy

visual examination (suffix)

-otomy

incision (suffix)

-plasty

surgical repair (suffix)

-centesis

cut, puncture (usually to drain) (suffix)

-meter

measure (suffix)

-ostomy

surgical creation of an opening (suffix)

VS

vital signs

HR

heart rate

B/P

blood pressure

WNL

within normal limits

ht or HT

height

wt or WT

weight

c/o

complaining of

h/o

history of

pmHx

past medical history

Rx

perscription

Fx

fracture

Cx

cervix

Tx

treatment

b.i.d.

2 times a day

t.i.d.

3 times a day

q.i.d.

4 times a day

s/s or S/S

signs and symptoms

VSS

vital signs stable

GTT

drops

pt. or Pt.

patient

SOB

shortness of breath

q2h

every 2 hours

N/V/D

nausea vomiting diarrhea

abd

abdominal

MI

myocardial infarction

intra-

within, inside

inter-

between

-ectomy

surgical removal