FHC Medical Terminology & Abbreviations

macro-

large

micro-

small, tiny

chloro-

green

erythro-

red

leuko-

white

cyan-

blue

melan-

black

dys-

difficult or painful

mal-

bad, abnormal, poor

necro-

death

pseudo-

false

-algia

pain

-emia

blood condition

-esis

condition

-ism

a condition

-itis

inflammation of

-lysis

destruction or breakdown

-megaly

enlarged, large

-osis

condition, process

-pathy

disease

-penia

lack of, deficiency

-iatry

medical treatment

-iatrist

a specialist

-ologist

person who studies

-ology

study of

uni-

one

bi-

two, twice, double

tri-

three

brady-

slow

hemi-

half

hyper-

more than normal

hypo-

less than normal

olig-

small, scant, few

poly-

many

tachy-

fast

echo-

ultrasonic waves

electro-

electricity

-centesis

surgical puncture to withdraw/aspirate fluid

-ectomy

surgical removal of

-gram

resulting record or picture

-graph(y)

process of recording a record or picture

-meter

instrument used to measure

-opsy

to view

-oscopy

diagnostic examination

-ostomy

creation of an opening by surgery

-otomy

cutting into

-plasty

surgical repair

-scope

examining instrument

anti-

against

circum-

around

contra-

against, opposed to, counter

dis-

apart, free/away from

endo-

inside

epi-

upon, over, upper

ex-

out, away from

inter-

between, within

intra-

within

para-

near, beside, lower half of the body

per-

by, through

peri-

around

post-

after

pre-

before

trans-

across

anter-

front

dist-

away from the point of origin

dors-

back

infer-

below

later-

side

medi-

middle

poster-

back or behind

proxim-

near to the point of origin

super-

above

ventr-

front or belly

bld

blood

CT Scan

computerized tomography scan

CXR

chest x-ray

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

US

ultrasound

CC

chief complaint

c/o

complains of

DOA

dead on arrival

dx

diagnosis

F/U or f/u

follow up

H&P

history and physical

H/O

history of

ID

identification

Hx or hx

history

PCP

patient care plan

PMH

past medical history

pt

patient

R/O

rule out

s̅

without

S/S or S&S

signs and symptoms

Tx or tx

treatment

WNL

within normal limits

am or AM

morning, before noon

ASAP

as soon as possible

Hr or hr

hour

min

minute

pm or PM

afternoon, evening