Medical Abbreviations D-M Flashcards

Medical Abbreviations D-M

• D/C: Indicates when a service or treatment is discontinued or when a patient is discharged from care.
• dept.: Short form for department, commonly used in healthcare settings to refer to specific divisions.
• DIP: Refers to the distal interphalangeal joint, typically found in fingers and toes.
• DJD: Acronym for degenerative joint disease, a condition that involves the loss of cartilage and bone.
• DM: Stands for diabetes mellitus, a group of diseases that result in high blood sugar levels.
• DNR: Stands for "do not resuscitate," a medical order indicating that a patient should not receive CPR.
• DO: Refers to a doctor of osteopathy, a fully licensed physician offering holistic care.
• DOB: Abbreviation for date of birth, crucial for identifying patient records.
• DOE: Dyspnea on exertion, indicating shortness of breath during physical activity.
• DTR: Deep tendon reflex, a common neurological examination component.
• DVT: Deep vein thrombosis, a condition involving blood clots in deep veins, often in the legs.
• Dx: Common shorthand for diagnosis, denoting the identification of a disease or condition.
• ECF: Extended care facility, a type of healthcare institution for long-term care.
• ECG, EKG: Electrocardiogram, a test that records the heart's electrical activity.
• ED: Emergency department, the hospital area for urgent care.
• EEG: Electroencephalogram, a test used to evaluate electrical activity in the brain.
• EENT: Refers to ear, eyes, nose, and throat, commonly associated with specific medical specialties.
• EMG: Stands for electromyogram, a test evaluating the health of muscles and nerve cells.
• E.R.: Short for emergency room, used interchangeably with the emergency department.
• eval.: Abbreviates evaluation, often related to assessing a patient's condition.
• ext.: Extension, commonly used in physical therapy contexts.
• FBS: Fasting blood sugar, a blood test measuring glucose levels after an overnight fast.
• FEV: Forced expiratory volume, crucial in assessing lung function.
• FH: Denotes family history, important for understanding genetic predispositions to diseases.
• flex: A term referring to flexion, the process of bending a limb or joint.
• FRC: Functional residual capacity, a lung volume measurement.
• ft.: Abbreviation for foot or feet, often used in measuring height or distance.
• FUO: Fever of unknown origin, a term for prolonged fever without an identifiable cause.
• FVC: Forced vital capacity, another measurement relevant to lung function tests.
• FWB: Full weight bearing, indicating that a patient can bear weight completely on their legs.
• fx: Indicates fracture, a common term used in orthopedic contexts.
• GB: Refers to gallbladder, an organ involved in digesting fats.
• GI: Short for gastrointestinal, pertaining to the stomach and intestines.
• g: Unit measurement for grams, often used in medication dosages.
• GSW: Stands for gunshot wound, a type of penetrating injury.
• GYN: Refers to gynecology, the branch of medicine dealing with female reproductive health.
• h, hr.: Abbreviation for hour, a unit of time frequently used in medical charting.
• H&H, H/H: Refers to hematocrit and hemoglobin, tests that evaluate blood components.
• H&P: History and physical, a comprehensive assessment of a patient’s medical background.
• h/o: Short for history of, commonly used in patient records to indicate previous conditions.
• HA, H/A: Abbreviation for headache, a common symptom in various disorders.
• Hb, Hgb: Refers to hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
• Hct: Stands for hematocrit, a measure of the proportion of blood volume occupied by red blood cells.
• HCVD: Hypertensive cardiovascular disease, a condition affecting the heart due to high blood pressure.
• HEENT: Emphasizes the combined assessment of the head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat.
• HEP: Home exercise program, a regimen designed for patients to perform at home.
• HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS.
• HNP: Herniated nucleus pulposus, a spinal condition where disc material protrudes.
• HOB: Refers to head of bed, important for positioning patients properly.
• HR: Heart rate, a vital sign indicating the number of heartbeats per minute.
• hs: Refers to at bedtime, often used in medication instructions.
• ht.: Abbreviation for height, a measure of vertical extent in patients.
• Ht: Also refers to hematocrit, important in evaluating blood composition.
• Htn or HTN: Stands for hypertension, a common condition of high blood pressure.
• Hx: Commonly denotes history, crucial for patient assessment and treatment planning.
• I&O: Intake and output, a method of tracking fluid balance in patients.
• IADL: Instrumental activities of daily living, referring to tasks necessary for independent living.
• ICU: Intensive care unit, a specialized department provided for critically ill patients.
• IDDM: Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, distinguishes a type of diabetes requiring insulin.
• IM: Refers to intramuscular injections, a common method for administering medication.
• imp.: Abbreviates impression, used in medical notes to convey a preliminary understanding.
• in.: Measurement unit for inches, often used in clinical assessments.
• indep: Independent, used in therapy or nursing to describe a patient's capability to perform activities alone.
• IMV: Intermittent mandatory ventilation, a type of mechanical ventilation.
• inf: Abbreviation for inferior, indicating a position relative to another structure.
• IRDS: Infant respiratory distress syndrome, a serious condition affecting newborns.
• IS: Incentive spirometry, a device to encourage deep breathing for lung health.
• IV: Stands for intravenous, referring to the delivery of fluids, medications, or nutrients directly into a vein.
• KAFO: Knee-ankle-foot orthosis, a supportive brace for lower limbs.
• kcal: Kilocalories, a unit measuring energy in food.
• kg: Measurement unit for kilograms, often used to indicate weight.
• KJ: Refers to knee jerk, a reflex test evaluating neurological function.
• KUB: Kidney, ureter, bladder, commonly used in medical imaging.
• L or l.: Denotes liter, a unit of volume.
• L: Represents left, a directional term in anatomy and nursing.
• lat: Short for lateral, indicating the side of the body.
• lb.: Abbreviation for pound, a weight measurement.
• LBBB: Left bundle branch block, a type of heart block seen in electrocardiograms.
• LBP: Low back pain, a prevalent condition affecting many individuals.
• LE: Refers to lower extremity, involved in both assessment and treatment plans.
• LOC: Loss of consciousness, often used in emergency and critical care contexts.
• LMN: Lower motor neuron, a type of motor neuron critical for muscle control.
• LOS: Length of stay, a metric used in healthcare management to evaluate patient care duration.
• LP: Lumbar puncture, a procedure to collect cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic purposes.
• m: Measurement unit for meters, used in various assessments.
• MAP: Mean arterial pressure, a key cardiac function indicator.
• max: Short for maximal, often used in exercise testing and health assessments.
• MD: Indicates medical doctor; refers to practitioners who have completed medical school.
• MED: Minimal erythemal dose, related to skin exposure to ultraviolet light.
• Meds.: Abbreviation for medications, almost synonymous with drugs used for treatment.
• mg: Measurement unit for milligrams, common in drug dosages.
• MI: Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, occurs due to lack of blood flow.
• min: Represents minimal, often referring to a baseline measure.
• min.: Short for minute, a unit of time.
• ml: Measurement unit for milliliters, frequently used in dosing medications.
• mm: Measurement unit for millimeters, helpful in precise measurements.
• MMT: Manual muscle test, an assessment method for muscle strength.
• mo.: Abbreviation for month, commonly used for duration in health records.
• mod: Stands for moderate, often to indicate symptom severity or intensity.
• MP, MEP: Refers to metacarpophalangeal joints, relating to fingers and hand

Test your knowledge of medical abbreviations from D to M with these flashcards. Each card provides an abbreviation along with its full definition, helping you understand their meanings in a medical context.