Medical Terminology Flashcards: L-P

Medical Abbreviations

• L&D refers to Labor and Delivery, a critical phase in obstetrics.
• L stands for left, indicating orientation or side in medical terms.
• Lap is short for laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving an incision in the abdominal cavity.
• LDL denotes low-density lipoprotein, a type of cholesterol linked to heart disease.

Measurements and Units

• Lb is an abbreviation for pound, a unit of weight commonly used in the United States.
• Liq stands for liquid, often used in medical prescriptions.
• Oz represents ounce, another unit of weight; essential in dosing medication.

Reproductive and Patient Terms

• LMP stands for Last Menstrual Period, an important indicator of pregnancy and menstrual health.
• Lp is an abbreviation for lumbar puncture, a diagnostic procedure involving the withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid.
• NPO means "nothing by mouth," indicating dietary restrictions prior to medical procedures.

Gastrointestinal and Nutritional Terms

• NG refers to nasogastric tube, a flexible tube inserted into the stomach through the nose.
• N/V stands for nausea and vomiting, common symptoms in various medical conditions.

Timing and Frequency

• pc means after meals, often used in medication instructions.
• prn indicates 'when necessary,’ used in prescribing medication.
• Noc defines actions or instructions to be taken at night.

Surgical and Medical Procedures

• preop refers to procedures or preparations done before an operation.
• postop is associated with actions taken after surgery, crucial for recovery.
• PCA stands for patient-controlled analgesia, a pain management technique allowing patients to administer their own medication.

Office and Eye Terminology

• O2 is the formula for oxygen, essential for respiration.
• Od stands for right eye, while Os denotes left eye, used in ocular prescriptions.
• Ou means each eye, commonly used in ophthalmology.

Common Medical Prefixes

• Lact-, lacto pertains to milk, relevant in breastfeeding discussions.
• Leuko- signifies white, often used in reference to blood cells.
• Macro- indicates large, used in various medical descriptors.

General Medical Terms

• -logy denotes the study of a particular subject, frequently used in medical disciplines (e.g., biology).
• -osis refers to a condition, often abnormal, such as in diagnosis.
• -otomy means cutting into, indicating surgical procedures.

Conditions and Disorders

• -plegia refers to paralysis, a condition affecting movement or function.
• -phobia indicates an irrational fear, used in psychology to describe anxiety disorders.
• -pathy denotes disease or disorder, applicable across various medical contexts.

Family and Child Terms

• Peds refers to pediatrics, the branch of medicine focusing on children.
• Pt indicates prothrombin time, a medical test for blood clotting factors.
• Para- as a prefix indicates abnormal or beside, relevant in describing certain health conditions.

Conclusion

• Understanding these medical terms and abbreviations is vital for effective communication in healthcare settings and enhances comprehension of medical literature.