Common Medical Abbreviations

Flashcards of common medical abbreviations and acronyms.

Instead of MS, MSO4, use:

Morphine

Instead of MgSO4, use:

Magnesium sulfate

Instead of abbreviated medication name, use:

Full medication name

Instead of Nitro, use:

Nitroglycerin

Instead of u, U, IU, use:

Units

Instead of apothecary units, use:

Metric units

Instead of od, O.D., OD, use:

Daily or intended time of administration

Instead of q.d, qd, Q.D, QD, qld, i/d, use:

Daily

Instead of q.o.d., QOD, use:

Every other day

Instead of x3d, use:

mcg or microgram

Instead of mL, use:

Milliliters

Instead of Q6PM, use:

6 p.m. daily

Instead of TIW, tiw, use:

3 times weekly

Instead of HS, use:

half-strength, bedtime (hour of sleep)

Instead of SC, SQ, sub q, use:

subcutaneously

Instead of IN, use:

intranasal

Instead of IJ, use:

injection

Instead of OJ, use:

orange juice

Instead of a, use:

at

Instead of &, +, use:

and

Instead of /, use:

per

Instead of AD, AS, AU, use:

right ear, left ear, both ears

Instead of OD, OS, OU, use:

right eye, left eye, both eyes

Instead of D/C, dc, d/c, use:

discharge or discontinue

Meaning of Abd:

Abdomen

Meaning of ABGs:

Arterial blood gases

Meaning of C:

Celsius

Meaning of C&S:

Culture and sensitivity

Meaning of a.c.:

Before meals

Meaning of Ca:

Calcium; cancer

Meaning of ACLS:

Advance cardiac life support

Meaning of CABG:

Coronary artery bypass graft

Meaning of Ad lib:

As desired

Meaning of CAD:

Coronary artery disease

Meaning of ADHD:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Meaning of CBC:

Complete blood count

Meaning of AKA:

Above-the-knee amputation

Meaning of CC:

Chief complaint

Meaning of AMA:

Against medical advice

Meaning of CDC:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Meaning of ASA:

Aspirin

Meaning of cm:

Centimeter

Meaning of ASAP:

As soon as possible

Meaning of CMS:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Meaning of BE:

Barium enema

Meaning of CNS:

Central nervous system

Meaning of BKA:

Below-the-knee amputation

Meaning of CP:

Chest pain

Meaning of BM:

Bowel movement

Meaning of CPR:

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Meaning of BMI:

Body mass index

Meaning of c/o:

Complains of

Meaning of BP:

Blood pressure

Meaning of COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Meaning of BPH:

Benign prostatic hypertrophy

Meaning of Csf:

Cerebrospinal fluid

Meaning of BPM:

Beats per minute

Meaning of CT:

Computed tomography

Meaning of BRP:

Bathroom privileges

Meaning of Cv:

Cardiovascular

Meaning of BSA:

Body surface area

Meaning of CVA:

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

Meaning of BUN:

Blood urea nitrogen

Meaning of CXR:

Chest x-ray

Meaning of Bx:

Biopsy

Meaning of d:

Day

Meaning of C:

With

Meaning of D&C:

Dilation and curettage

Meaning of D/C, dc:

Discharge, discontinue

Meaning of DM:

Diabetes mellitus

Meaning of DNR:

Do not resuscitate

Meaning of DOB:

Date of birth

Meaning of DTap:

Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine

Meaning of Dx:

Diagnosis

Meaning of ECG, EKG:

Electrocardiogram

Meaning of ED:

Emergency department

Meaning of EEG:

Electroencephalogram

Meaning of ENT:

Ear, nose, and throat

Meaning of F:

Fahrenheit

Meaning of FBS, FBG:

Fasting blood sugar/glucose

Meaning of f/u:

Follow up

Meaning of FUO:

Fever of unknown origin

Meaning of Fx:

Fracture

Meaning of GI:

Gastrointestinal

Meaning of GTT:

Glucose tolerance test

Meaning of gtt:

Drop

Meaning of GU:

Genitourinary

Meaning of GYN:

Gynecology, gynecologist

Meaning of H, hr:

Hour

Meaning of Hct:

Hematocrit

Meaning of HEENT:

Head, ears, eyes, nose, throat

Meaning of HF:

Heart failure

Meaning of Hgb:

Hemoglobin

Meaning of HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

Meaning of HPV:

Human papillomavirus

Meaning of HTN:

Hypertension

Meaning of Hx:

History

Meaning of I&D:

Incision and drainage

Meaning of I&O:

Intake and output

Meaning of ICU:

Intensive care unit