Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms

A doctor prescribes an 'IM injection'. What route of administration is being used?

A patient needs to fast before a procedure. Which abbreviation would indicate that the patient should have nothing by mouth?

A patient who has a broken leg is scheduled for a 'CXR'. What is the purpose of this procedure?

A doctor orders a 'U/S' to investigate a patient's abdominal pain. What type of imaging technique will be performed?

NPO (Nothing by Mouth)

IM stands for Intramuscular, relating to an injection given into a muscle.
INJ means Injection, referring to the act of administering a fluid into the body.
IC stands for Intracutaneous, signifying an injection given into the skin.
NPO means Nothing by Mouth, an instruction to withhold oral food and fluids.
IV stands for Intravenous, indicating administration directly into a vein.
SC is Subcutaneous, denoting an injection given under the skin.
Bx means Biopsy, the removal of a tissue sample for diagnostic examination.
ID stands for Intradermal, an injection given between layers of the skin.
CXR means Chest X-Ray, a radiographic image of the chest.
AAT stands for Activity as Tolerated, advising patients can do as much as they can handle.
ABD means Abdomen, the part of the body containing the digestive organs.
FX means Fracture, which means a broken bone.
RA stands for Rheumatoid Arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting joints.
Tx means Treatment, the management and care of a patient to combat disease or disorder.
U/S stands for Ultrasound which uses sound waves for diagnostic imaging.
is an abbreviation for fracture.

This lesson explains common medical abbreviations. It covers terms like IM (Intramuscular), INJ (Injection), NPO (Nothing by Mouth) and IV (Intravenous). Understanding these abbreviations is essential for healthcare professionals.