Medical Abbreviations Glossary
Medical Abbreviations
Week 1/27 & 1/28 Test #4
List of Medical Abbreviations
ER
Meaning: Emergency Room
Application: The area in a hospital where urgent cases are treated.
ETOH
Meaning: Ethanol (Alcohol)
Application: Often used in medical contexts to refer to alcohol use or abuse.
Exam
Meaning: Examination
Application: A check-up or assessment of a patient’s health.
FH
Meaning: Family History
Application: Relevant medical history of a patient’s family, which may affect their own health.
FOB
Meaning: Foot of Bed
Application: Often used in clinical settings to describe patient positioning.
f/u
Meaning: Follow Up
Application: Refers to future appointments or assessments after initial treatment.
FWB
Meaning: Full Weight Bearing
Application: Indicates that the patient can place their full weight on an affected limb.
Fx
Meaning: Fracture
Application: A break in the bone.
GB
Meaning: Gallbladder
Application: An organ involved in fat digestion and storage.
GCS
Meaning: Glasgow Coma Scale
Application: A scale used to assess consciousness level in a person.
GE
Meaning: Gastroenterology
Application: The branch of medicine that deals with the digestive system and its disorders.
GERD
Meaning: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Application: A chronic condition where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus.
G/E
Meaning: Gastroenteritis
Application: Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically resulting in vomiting and diarrhea.
Gen
Meaning: General
Application: Pertaining broadly to a group without specification.
Gest.
Meaning: Gestation
Application: The period of development of the fetus within the womb.
G.I.
Meaning: Gastrointestinal
Application: Related to the stomach and intestines.
GNA
Meaning: Geriatric Nursing Assistant
Application: A nursing assistant specializing in care for the elderly.
Gluc
Meaning: Glucose
Application: A simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms.
GP
Meaning: General Practitioner, General Paralysis
Application: A physician who does not specialize in one area of medicine or refers to a condition involving widespread paralysis.
GSW
Meaning: Gunshot Wound
Application: An injury caused by a bullet or projectile piercing the body.
GTT
Meaning: Glucose Tolerance Test
Application: A test to assess how well a body processes glucose, often used to diagnose diabetes.
Gt. tr.
Meaning: Gait Training
Application: Rehabilitation to improve walking ability.
GYN
Meaning: Gynecology
Application: The branch of medicine that deals with the female reproductive system.
H/A
Meaning: Headache
Application: Pain or discomfort in the head or neck region.
HAV
Meaning: Hepatitis A Virus
Application: A virus that causes liver inflammation and illness.
Hb.
Meaning: Hemoglobin
Application: A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
HB
Meaning: Heart Block
Application: A condition that affects the heart’s electrical conduction system.
HBP
Meaning: High Blood Pressure
Application: A condition where the force of the blood against artery walls is consistently too high.
HEENT
Meaning: Head, Ear, Eyes, Nose, Throat
Application: A comprehensive examination of these regions, often performed by medical professionals.
H2O
Meaning: Water
Application: Essential for life; often referenced in hydration contexts.
h/o
Meaning: History Of
Application: Used to provide past medical history of a condition.
HOB
Meaning: Head of Bed
Application: Refers to the upper part of a hospital bed.
H&P
Meaning: History and Physical
Application: Documentation combining patient history and physical examination findings.
HE
Meaning: Heart Rate
Application: The number of heartbeats per minute.
HTN
Meaning: Hypertension
Application: A chronic condition of elevated blood pressure.
HVD
Meaning: Hypertensive Vascular Disease
Application: The impact of long-term hypertension on blood vessels.
Hx
Meaning: History
Application: Refers to past medical experiences of a patient.
Hz
Meaning: Hertz (Cycle/Sound)
Application: A unit that measures frequency.
ICCU
Meaning: Intensive Coronary Care Unit
Application: A specialized area in a hospital for patients with severe heart issues.
imp.
Meaning: Impression
Application: A clinician’s summary of the case based on examination results.
incr.
Meaning: Increased(ing)
Application: Refers to something that is getting larger or more vigorous.
inf.
Meaning: Infusion
Application: The introduction of a substance (such as medication) into a vein or tissue.
inspire
Meaning: Inspiration/Inspiratory
Application: The action of breathing in.
int.
Meaning: Internal
Application: Refers to something occurring inside the body.
I &O
Meaning: Intake and Output
Application: A measure of fluid consumption and excretion, relevant for patient monitoring.
IPPB
Meaning: Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
Application: A method of delivering breaths to patients through a device.
irreg.
Meaning: Irregular
Application: Describes something lacking a regular pattern, often in heartbeat contexts.
J or Jt.
Meaning: Joint
Application: Where two bones meet, often discussing movement or injury.
K or K+
Meaning: Potassium
Application: An essential mineral for heart and muscle function.
L1, L2, L3, L4, L5
Meaning: Lumbar Vertebrae (L1-L5)
Application: Refers to the five vertebrae located in the lower back, important in spinal anatomy and conditions.