Medical Terminology Abbreviations (HIT 117B)

Vocabulary flashcards covering 61 common medical abbreviations from the HIT 117B course.

abd

abdomen

AD

right ear

AS

left ear

AU

both ears

BaE / BE

barium enema

b.i.d. / bid

twice a day

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

Bx

biopsy

cath

catheterize

CC

chief complaint

CCU

coronary care unit

CT

computed tomography (CT scan)

CT (CAT) scan

computed axial tomography

CVA

cerebrovascular accident

CXR

chest x-ray

D/C

discontinue; discharge

DM

diabetes mellitus

Dx

diagnosis

ECG / EKG

electrocardiogram

EEG

electroencephalogram

ENT

ears, nose, throat

Fx

fracture

GERD

gastroesophageal reflux disease

HTN

hypertension

Hx

history

IDDM

insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type I)

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

KUB

kidneys, ureters, bladder (x-ray test)

LPN

licensed practical nurse

MD / M.D.

doctor of medicine or muscular dystrophy

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

NB

newborn

NPO

nothing by mouth

OA

osteoarthritis

OD / O.D.

right eye

OS

left eye

OU

each eye

PH

past history

PI

present illness

post-op

after operation

pre-op

before operation (preoperative)

PSA

prostate-specific antigen

pt

patient

PT

physical therapy

q

every

q.d. / qd

each day

RBC / rbc

red blood cell count

ROM

range of motion

ROS

review of systems

SOB

shortness of breath

STAT

immediately

Sx

symptoms or signs

TB

tuberculosis

t.i.d. / tid

three times a day

Tx

treatment

UA / U/A

urinalysis

URI

upper respiratory infection

US / u/s

ultrasound

UTI

urinary tract infection

WNL

within normal limits