Anatomy and Physiology - Common Abbreviations

abdomin/o

Abdomen

angi/o

Vessel

arthr/o

Joint

cardi/o-

Heart

cyt/o

Cell

derm/o

Skin

erythr/o

Red

gastr/o

Stomach

glyc/o

Sugar

hepat/o

Liver

hist/o

Tissue

leuk/o

White

mamm/o

Breast

nephr/o

Kidney

neur/o

Nerve

opthalm/o

Eye

or/o

Mouth

oste/o

Bone

ot/o

Ear

phag/o

to swallow

path/o

Disease

rhin/o

Nose

a or an

without

Bi

two

Acro

extremities

Brady

slow

Dia

through

Dys

difficult

Electro

electric

Endo

within

Epi

upon or over

Hemi

half

Hyper

above normal

Hypo

below normal

Iso

equal

Macro

large

micro

small

multi

many

oligo

little, deficient

peri

around

tachy

fast

quadri/quar/quat

four

semi

half or partial

sub

under, moderately

super

above, excessive, more

tri

three

uni

one

a

state or condition

algia

pain

cyte

cell

ectomy

surgical removal of

emia

pertaining to the presence of a substance in the blood

gram

the actual recorded record

graphy

the process of recording

ism

state of

ist

one who specializes

itis

inflammation of

logist

one who studies

logy

study of

sis

disease or condition of

otomy

cutting into

ostomy

surgically forming an opening

megaly

enlargement of

pathy

disease

phobia

fear of

plasty

surgical repair

plegia

paralysis

penia

decrease or lack of

sclerosis

hardening

scope

instrument to view or examine

therapy

treatment

BP

blood pressure

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

GI

gastrointestinal

ICU

intensive care unit

NPO

nothing by mouth (from the Latin nil per os)

SOB

shortness of breath

STAT

immediately

ER/ED

emergency room/emergency department

SQ

subcutaneous

D/C or DC

Discharge

Disp

dispense

p.o.

by mouth

p.r.n.

as needed

b.i.d.

twice daily

Rx

prescription or as prescribed