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Med Term Ch 2
terms/abbreviations
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| acute | it just started recently or is a sharp, severe symptom |
| chronic | it has been going on for a while now |
| exacerbation | it is getting worse |
| abrupt | all of a sudden |
| febrile | to have a fever |
| afebrile | to not have a fever |
| malaise | not feeling well |
| progressive | more and more each day |
| symptom | something a patient feels |
| noncontributory | not related to this specific problem |
| lethargic | a decrease in level of consciousness; in a medical record, this is generally an indication that the patient is really sick |
| genetic / hereditary | it runs in the family |
| alert | able to answer questions, responsive, interactive |
| oriented | being aware of who he or she is, where he or she is, and the current time; a patient who is aware of all 3 is "oriented x3" |
| marked | it really stands out |
| unremarkable | another way of saying normal |
| auscultation | to listen |
| percussion | to hit something and listen to the resulting sound or feel for the resulting vibration; drums are a percussion instrument |
| palpation | to feel |
| disposition | what happened to the patient at the end of the visit; often used at the end of ED notes to reference where the patient went after the visit (home, the ICU, normal hospital bed) |
| discharge | literally to unload; 2 meanings 1. to send home (to unload the patient from the health care setting to home) 2. fluid coming out of a part of the body (body unloading fluid) |
| prophylaxis | preventative treatment |
| palliative | treating the symptoms, but not actually getting rid of the cause |
| observation | watch, keep an eye on |
| reassurance | to tell the patient that the problem is not serious or dangerous |
| supportive care | to treat the symptoms and make the patient feel better |
| sterile | extremely clean, germ-free conditions; especially important during medical procedures and surgery |
| proximal | closer in to the center |
| distal | farther away from the center |
| lateral | out to the side |
| medial | toward the middle |
| ventral/antral/anterior | the front |
| dorsal / posterior | the back |
| cranial | toward the top |
| caudal | toward the bottom |
| superior | above |
| inferior | below |
| prone | lying down on belly |
| supine | lying down on back |
| contralateral | opposite side |
| ipsilateral | same side |
| unilateral | one side |
| bilateral | both sides |
| dorsum | top of hand or foot |
| plantar | the sole of foot |
| palmar | palm of the hand |
| sagittal | divides the body in slices right to left |
| coronal | divides the body into slices from front to back |
| transverse | divides the body from top to bottom |
| chief complaint | main reason for patient's visit |
| CCU | coronary care unit |
| ECU | emergency care unit |
| ER | emergency room |
| ED | emergency department |
| ICU | intensive care unit |
| PICU | pediatric intensive care unit |
| NICU | neonatal intensive care unit |
| SICU | surgical intensive care unit |
| PACU | post-anesthesia care unit |
| L&D | labor and delivery |
| OR | operating room |
| post-op | after surgery |
| pre-op | before surgery |
| VS | vital signs |
| T | temperature |
| BP | Blood pressure |
| HR | heart rate |
| RR | respiratory rate |
| Ht | height |
| Wt | weight |
| BMI | body mass index |
| I/O | intake/output; the amount of fluids a patient has taken in (by IV or mouth) and produces (usually just urine output) |
| Dx | diagnosis |
| DDx | differential diagnosis |
| Tx | treatment |
| Rx | prescription |
| H&P | history and physical |
| Hx | history |
| CC | chief complaint |
| HPI | history of present illness (story of symptoms) |
| ROS | review of symptoms |
| PMHx | past medical history |
| FHx | family history |
| NKDA | no known drug allergies |
| PE | physical exam |
| Pt | patient |
| y/o | years old |
| h/o | history of |
| PCP | primary care provider |
| f/u | follow up |
| SOB | shortness of breath / SOA; shortness of air |
| HEENT | head, eyes, ears, nose and throat |
| PERRLA | pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation |
| NAD | no acute distress (patient does not display any intense symptoms) |
| CV | cardiovascular |
| RRR | regular rate and rhythm (description of a normal heart on exam) |
| CTA | clear to auscultation (description of normal sounding lungs) |
| WDWN | well developed, well nourished (the patient is growing or has grown appropriately and does not appear malnourished) |
| A&O | alert and oriented (the patient can answer questions and is aware of what's going on) |
| WNL | within normal limits |
| NOS | not otherwise specified |
| NEC | not elsewhere specified |
| PO | per os (by mouth) |
| NPO | nil per os (nothing by mouth) |
| PR | per rectum (anal) |
| IM | intramuscular |
| SC | subcutaneous (under the skin) |
| IV | intravenous |
| CVL | central venous line |
| PICC | peripherally inserted central catheter |
| Sig | instructions short for signa- latin for "label" |
Created by:
cayla.marie
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