Abbreviations and Symbols

AAA

abdominal aortic aneurysm

A&P

auscultation and percussion

A, B, AB, O

blood types in ABO blood group

AB, Ab, ab

antibody; abortion

ABC

aspiration biopsy cytology

ABG

arterial blood gas(es)

AC

air conduction

Acc

accommodation

ACE

angiotensin-converting enzyme (inhibitor)

AChR

acetylcholine receptor

ACL

anterior cruciate ligament

ACS

acute coronary syndrome

ACTH

adrenocorticotropic hormone

AD

Alzheimer's disease

ADH

antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin)

ADHD

attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

ADT

androgen deprivation therapy

ad lib.

as desired

ADLs

activities of daily living

AE

above the elbow

AED

automatic external defibrillator; automatic external device

AFB

acid-fast bacillus (TB organism)

AFib

atrial fibrillation

AGN

acute glomerulonephritis

AI

artificial insemination

AICD

automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AK

above the knee

ALL

acute lymphocytic leukemia

ALS

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ALT

alanine aminotransferase

AM, a.m.

in the morning or before noon

AML

acute myelogenous leukemia

ANA

antinuclear antibody

ANS

autonomic nervous system

AOM

acute otitis media

AP

anteroposterior

APC

antigen-presenting cell

APTT

activated partial thromboplastin time

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

ARF

acute renal failure

ARMD, AMD

age-related macular degeneration

AS

aortic stenosis

ASD

atrial septal defect

ASHD

arteriosclerotic heart disease

AST

angiotensin sensitivity test; aspartate aminotransferase

Ast

astigmatism

ATN

acute tubular necrosis

AV

atrioventricular; arteriovenous

Ba

barium

baso

basophil (type of white blood cell)

BBB

bundle branch block

BC

bone conduction

BCC

basal cell carcinoma

BE

barium enema; below the elbow

BEAM

brain electrical activity mapping

BK

below the knee

BKA

below-knee amputation

BM

bowel movement

BMD

bone mineral density

BMI

body mass index

BMR

basal metabolic rate

BMT

bone marrow transplant

BNO

bladder neck obstruction

BP, B/P

blood pressure

BPH

benign prostatic hyperplasia; benign prostatic hypertrophy

BS

blood sugar

BSE

breast self-examination

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

Bx, bx

biopsy

C&S

culture and sensitivity

c/o

complains of, complaints

C1, C2, and so on

first cervical vertebra, second cervical vertebra, and so on

CA

cancer; chronological age; cardiac arrest

Ca

calcium; cancer

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

coronary artery disease

CAH

chronic active hepatitis; congenital adrenal hyperplasia

CAT

computed axial tomography

Cath

catheterization; catheter

CBC

complete blood count

CC

cardiac catheterization; chief complaint

CCU

coronary care unit

CDH

congenital dislocation of the hip

CF

cystic fibrosis

CHD

coronary heart disease

chemo

chemotherapy

CHF

congestive heart failure

Chol

cholesterol

CIS

carcinoma in situ

CK

creatine kinase (cardiac enzyme); conductive keratoplasty

CLL

chronic lymphocytic leukemia

cm

centimeter (1/100 of a meter)

CML

chronic myelogenous leukemia

CNS

central nervous system

CO

coccygeal nerves

CO₂

carbon dioxide

COLD

chronic obstructive lung disease

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CP

cerebral palsy