Term | Definition |
abdomin/o | abdomen |
acou/o or acoust/o | hearing |
aden/o | gland |
adip/o | fat |
alb/o | white |
alges/o | pain |
andr/o | man |
angi/o | vessel |
angin/o | blood vessel |
ankyl/o | fused, stiff |
anter/o | front |
aort/o | aorta |
append/o | appendix |
arteri/o | artery |
arthr/o | joint |
asthen/o | weak |
atel/o | incomplete |
ather/o | fat |
atri/o | atrium |
audi/o | to hear |
aur/o | ear |
aut/o | self |
bacteri/o | bacteria |
bi | life or two |
bil/i | bile |
blast/o | developing cell; budding |
blephar/o | eyelid |
brachi/o | arm |
bronch/i | airway, bronchus |
bucc/o | cheek |
burs/o | pouch, sac, bag |
calc/i | calcium |
carcin/o | cancer |
cardi/o | heart |
carp/o | wrist |
cartil/o | catilage |
caud/o | tail |
cec/o | cecum, intestine |
cel/o | hernia, protrusion |
cent/e | to puncture (a body cavity) |
cent/i | 100; metric system |
cephal/o | head |
cerebr/o | brain, cerebrum |
cervic/o | neck |
chol/e | bile |
chondr/o | cartilage |
chrom/o | color |
chron/o | time |
cirrh/o | yellow-orange |
cleid/o | clavicle |
col/o | colon; large intestine |
colp/o | vagina |
condyl/o | knuckle of a joint |
cor/o | pupil |
corne/o | cornea |
cost/o | rib |
crani/o | cranium; skull |
crin/o | to secrete |
cubitus | elbow |
cutane/o | skin |
cyan/o | blue |
cycl/o | circle or cycle |
cyst/o | bladder |
cyt/o | cell |
derm(at)/o | skin |
digit | finger or toe |
dipl/o | two; double |
dips/o | thirst |
disk/o | flat shape (intervertebral disk) |
dist/o | distant; away |
diverticul/o | diverticulum; small intestinal pouch |
dors/o | back |
duct/o | lead; move |
duoden/o | duodenum (small intestine) |
ech/o | to bounce; sound |
ede | swelling |
elast/o | change shape |
electr/o | electricity |
embol/o | plug traveling through the bloodstream |
embry/o | embryo (early fetus/baby) |
emesis | vomit |
emmetr/o | according to measure |
encephal/o | brain |
enter/o | small intestine |
episi/o | vulva |
erythr/o | red |
esthesi | sensation or perception |
febr | fever |
flex | bend |
foramen | opening; hole |
fract | break |
gastr/o | stomach |
gest | carry or produce (congestion) |
glyc/o | sugar; sweet |
gno | to know (diagnosis) |
gyn/o | woman; female |
hem(at)/o | blood |
hepat/o | liver |
heter/o | other; different |
hom/o | same |
hydr/o | water |
idi/o | person, self; distinctively itself |
lact/o | milk |
leuk/o | white |
lingu/o | tongue |
mal/o | abnormal, bad |
medi/o | middle |
melan/o | black; dark |
men/o | month; menstruation |
mening/o | membrane (around central nervous system) |
myel/o | marrow or spinal cord |
my/o | muscle |
nephr/o | nephrons (of the kidneys) |
ocul/o | eye |
opthalm/o | eye |
oste/o | bone |
ot/o | ear |
ov/o | egg |
palpate | examine by touch |
path/o | disease |
percuss | examine by striking/tapping |
phag/o | eat |
pharyng/o | (back of) throat |
phot/o | light |
pleur/o | rib; side |
pneum(at)/o | lungs; air |
pneumo(n)/o | lung |
pod/i | foot |
pseud/o | false |
psych/o | mind |
pto | fall |
ptyal/o | saliva |
pulmon/o | lungs |
pur or py | pus |
pyr/o | fire; heat |
quadr/o or quar | four |
ren/o | kidney |
rhin/o | nose |
sangui(n)o | blood |
scler/o | hard; white of eyes |
sebum | a fatty secretion of the sebaceous glands (oily hair) |
sect/o | cut |
sept/o | wall, divider; seven |
serum | watery, clear fluid |
sinus | cavity or hollow space |
som(a) | body |
spir/o | coil; to breathe |
stern/o | sternum, breastbone |
stomat/o | mouth |
thorac/o | chest |
tom/o | cut |
toxic/o | poisonous |
trich/o | hair |
ur/o | urine |
uter/o | uterus, womb |
varic/o | dilated vein |
vas/o | blood vessel |
viscer/o | internal organ |
xen/o | foreign object (or material) |
xer/o | dry |
a(n)- | without |
ab- | away from |
ad | to, toward |
ana- | up, back, again |
ante- | before, forward |
anti- | against, opposed to |
auto- | self |
bi- | two |
brady- | slow |
circum- | around |
contra- | opposite |
de- | down; away from |
di- | twice; double |
dia- | through, complete |
dys- | difficult |
ect(o)- | out, outside |
end(o) | inside, within |
epi- | above, over |
eu- | good or normal |
ex(o) | outside, away from |
extra- | outside, in addition |
hemi- | half |
hyper- | over/excessive or high |
hypo- | under or below normal |
in- | into; without |
infra- | below or under |
intra- | inside or within |
ipsi- | same |
iso- | equal (isotonic fluid = same as blood) |
macro- | large |
mal- | bad or abnormal |
mega- | large |
meta- | after; change |
micro- | small |
mono- | one; single |
multi- | many |
neo- | new |
noct- | night |
nulli- | none |
oligi(o)- | little; deficient |
ortho- | straight; normal |
pan- | all; entire |
para- | near; beside |
per- | through |
peri- | around |
poly- | many |
post- | after |
pre- | before |
primi- | first |
pro- | before; in front of |
quadr(i) | four |
re- | back |
retro- | backward; behind |
semi- | half; partial |
sub- | under; below |
super- | excessive or more than normal |
supra- | above; upper |
sym- or syn- | together, joined |
tachy- | fast |
tetra- | four |
trans- | across or through |
tri- | three |
uni- | one |
-al or -algia | pertaining to |
-asthenia | weakness |
-blast | immature cell |
-cele | pertaining to a tumor or swelling |
-centesis | pertaining to puncturing an organ or body cavity, often to drain excess fluid or obtain a sample for analysis |
-cyte | cell |
-ectomy | surgical removal of |
-emesis | vomiting |
-emia | presence in the blood |
-esthesia | sensation or perception |
-genic | causing |
-gram | record |
-graph | instrument used to create a record |
-ia | condition of |
-ic | pertaining to |
-itis | inflammation |
-lysis | decline or destruction |
-megaly | enlargement of |
-meter | measuring instrument |
-ology | science or study of |
-oma | tumor |
-osis | pertaining to a disease process |
-ostomy | surgical creation of an opening |
-pathy | disease or a system for treating disease |
-phagia | eating or swallowing |
-phasia | speech |
-phobia | irrational fear |
-plasty | plastic surgery |
-plegia | paralysis |
-pnea | breathing |
-ptosis | drooping |
-rrhea, -rrhage or -rrhagia | abnormal or excessive flow |
-rrhaphy | suture or repair of |
-scope | instrument for examination |
-sis | a process or condition |
-stasis | slowing or stopping of the normal flow |
-taxis | order, arrangement of |
-trophic | nutrition |
A&P | Anatomy and Physiology |
a (with a line over it) | before |
AAA | abdominal aortic aneurysm |
abd | abdomen |
ABCs | Airway, Breathing, Circulation |
ac | before meals |
ACLS | Advanced Cardiac Life Support |
ADL or ADLs | Activities of Daily Living |
ad lib | as desired |
AED | Automated External Defibrillator |
AF or A-Fib | atrial fibrillation |
AICD | Automated Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator |
AIDS | Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome |
AK | above the knee |
AKA | above the knee amputation |
AMA | against medical advise |
amb | ambulatory |
AMI | acute myocardial infarction |
ant | anterior |
AOx4 or A/Ox4 | alert and oriented to person, place, time, and event |
AP | anterior-posterior (front and back) |
ARDS | Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome |
ASA | aspirin (acetylsalicyclic acid) |
ASHD | arteriosclerotic or atherosclerotic heart disease |
BGL | blood glucose level |
bid, b.i.d., or BID | twice daily |
BKA | below knee amputation |
BM | bowel movement |
BP or B/P | blood pressure |
BPM | beats per minute |
BS | blood sugar; breath sounds; bowel sounds |
BSA | body surface area |
BVM | bag-valve mask |
bx | biopsy |
c (with a line over it) | with |
(degree sign) C | degrees Celsius |
CA | cancer; cardiac arrest; coronary artery |
CABG ("cabbage") | coronary artery bypass graft |
CAD | coronary artery disease |
CBC | complete blood cell count |
CC or c/c | chief complaint |
CCU | coronary care unit |
C diff | clostridium difficile |
CHF | Congestive Heart Failure |
cm | centimeter |
CNS | central nervous system |
c/o | complaining of |
CO | cardiac output or carbon monoxide |
CO2 | carbon dioxide |
COLD | chronic obstructive lung disease |
COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
CP | chest pain or cerebral palsy |
CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
CRNA | certified registered nurse anesthetist |
CRT | capillary refill time |
CSF | cerebrospinal fluid |
CVA | cerebrovascular accident (stroke) |
DM | diabetes mellitus |
DNR | Do Not Resuscitate |
DOA | dead on arrival |
DOE | dyspnea on exertion |
DON | director of nursing |
DtaP of DPT | diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine; second = doctor of physical therapy |
DSD | dry sterile dressing |
DTs | dementia tremens |
DVT | deep vein thrombosis |
Dx | diagnosis |
ECG or EKG | electrocardiogram |
ED | emergency department or erectile dysfunction |
EDC | estimated date of confinement (due date) |
EEG | electroencephalogram |
ENT | ears, nose, and throat |
EOC | emergency Operations Center |
ER | emergency room |
ET or ETT | endotracheal tube |
ETA | estimated time of arrival |
ETCO2 | end-tidal carbon dioxide |
ETOH | ethyl alcohol |
(degree sign) F | degrees Fahrenheit |
FiO2 | fraction of inspired oxygen |
FBS | fasting blood sugar |
Fe | iron |
FHR | fetal heart rate |
FHx | family history |
fl or fld | fluid |
fx | fracture |
GB | gall bladder |
GCS | Glasgow Coma Scale |
GERD | gastroesophageal reflux disease |
GI | gastointestinal |
GSW | gun shot wound |
gtt or gtts | drops |
GTT | glucose tolerance test |
GU | genitourinary |
gyn | gynecology |
h or hr | hour |
H&P | history and physical |
HA or H/A | headache |
Hb or Hgb | hemoglobin |
HBV | hepatitis C virus |
HH | hiatal hernia |
HIV | Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus |
H2O | water |
HPI | history of present illness |
HR | heart rate |
HTN | hypertension (high blood pressure) |
Hx | history |
I&O | input and output |
ICP | intracranial pressure |
ICS | incident command system or intercostal space |
ICU | intensive care unit |
IDDM | Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus |
IM | intramuscular |
IMS | incident management system |
IO | intraosseous (in bone) |
IPPB | intermittent positive-pressure breathing |
IUD | intrauterine (contraceptive) device |
IV | intravenous |
JVD | jugular vein distention |
kg | kilogram |
LE | lower extremity; left eye; lupus erythematosus |
LLL | left lower lung |
LLQ | left lower quadrant |
L/M or LPM | liters per minute |
LMP | last menstrual period |
LOC | level (or loss) of consciousness |
LUL | left upper lobe (of lung) |
LUQ | left upper quadrant |
LVAD | left ventricular assist device |
MAE | moves all extremities |
MAEW | moves all extremities well |
mg | milligram |
MI | myocardial infarction (heart attack) |
MICU | mobile (or medical) intensive care unit |
min | minute |
mL | milliliter |
mm | millimeter |
mm Hg | millimeters of mercury |
MOI | mechanism of injury |
MRI | magnetic resonance imaging |
MRSA | methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus |
MVA or MVC | motor vehicle accident or crash |
MVP | mitral valve prolapse |
NA, N/A | not applicable |
NAD | no apparent distress |
nc | nasal cannula |
NG | nasogastric |
NICU | neonatal intensive care unit |
NIDDM | non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus |
NKA | no known allergies |
NKDA | no known drug allergies |
NPA | nasopharyngeal airway |
NPO | nil per os (nothing by mouth) |
NRB or NRBM | non-rebreather mask |
NS | Normal Saline (fluid) |
NSR | Normal Sinus Rhythm (heart rhythm on EKG) |
NTG | nitroglycerin |
N/V(/D) | nausea and vomiting (and diarrhea) |
O2 | oxygen |
OB | obstetrics |
OBS | Organic Brain Syndrome |
OD | Overdose; right eye; doctor of optometry |
OP | outpatient |
OPA | oropharyngeal airway |
OR | operating room |
OS | left eye |
OU | both eyes |
oz | ounce |
p (with line over it) | after |
pc | after meals |
PCO2 | partial pressure of carbon dioxide |
PDR | Physician's Desk Reference |
PE | pulmonary embolism or physical exam |
PEARL, PERL, (PEARRL), or [PEARLA] | pupils equal and (round/regular) reactive to light (and [accomodation] |
ped or peds | pediatric |
PEEP | positive end-expiratory pressure |
PID | pelvis inflammatory disease |
PMH | past medical history |
PND | paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (sudden SOB at night) |
po | per os (by mouth) or post-op |
PRN | pro re nata (as needed) |
psi | per square inch |
(P)SVT | (paroxysmal) supraventricular tachycardia = sudden fast heart rate with a narrow QRS |
pt | patient or physical therapy |
PTA | prior to arrival |
PVC | premature ventricular contraction (wide QRS) |
PVD | peripheral vascular disease |
q | every |
RA | rheumatoid arthritis or right atrium |
RAD | reactive airway disease or right axis deviation (12-lead) |
RBCs | red blood cells |
Rh | Rhesus blood factor |
RLL | right lower lobe of lung |
RLQ | right lower quadrant |
RN | registered nurse |
R/O | rule out |
ROM | range of motion; rupture of membranes (OB) |
RUL | right upper lobe of lung |
RUQ | right upper quadrant |
Rx | prescription |
s (with line over it) | without |
SaO2 | oxygen saturation (of arterial blood) |
SC or SubQ | subcutaneous |
SICU | surgical intensive care unit |
SIDS | sudden infant death syndrome |
SL | sublingual |
SOB | shortness of breath |
SpO2 | saturation of peripheral blood (capillary) |
S/S or S&S | signs and symptoms |
stat | immediately |
STD | sexually transmitted disease |
STEMI | ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction |
sym or Sx | symptoms |
tab | tablet |
TB | tuberculosis |
TBA | to be announced or admitted |
tech | technician or technologist |
TIA | transient ischemic attack |
tid, t.i.d., or TID | three times a day |
Tx | treatment |
UA | urinalysis |
UE | upper extremity |
URI | upper respiratory infection |
UTI | urinary tract infection |
VD | venereal disease |
VF or V-Fib | ventriuclar fibrillation (AED shock) |
VRE | vancomycin-resistant enterococcus |
VS | vital signs |
VT or V-Tach | ventricular tachycardia (pulseless = AED shock) |
W/ | with |
WBC | white blood cells |
WMD | weapons of mass destruction |
WNL | within normal limits (do not use) |
W/O | without |
wt | weight |
x (with a line over it) | except |
yo or y/o | year old |