Medical Terms and Abbreviations Flashcards

Medical Abbreviations and Terms

• abd: Refers to the abdomen, a central part of the body that houses major organs.

• abw: Stands for adjusted body weight, used in medical assessments to evaluate a patient’s health.

• ac: Indicates the need for certain activities or medications to occur before meals.

• ACVD: An abbreviation for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a condition characterized by the hardening of arteries that can lead to severe cardiovascular issues.

• AD: Commonly refers to Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurological disorder affecting memory and cognition.

• ad lib: A phrase used to indicate that a patient should do something as desired without restrictions.

• ADH: The antidiuretic hormone, crucial for water retention in the body and regulation of blood pressure.

• ADLs: Activities of daily living, which encompass basic self-care tasks necessary for daily functioning.

• afib: Short for atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat that can increase the risk of stroke and other heart-related issues.

• AKA: Above knee amputation, a surgical procedure involving the removal of a limb above the knee joint.

• AKI: Acute kidney injury, a rapid decline in kidney function that may require immediate medical attention.

• Alb: Represents albumin, a protein in the blood that helps maintain blood volume and pressure.

• AM: Refers to "morning," generally indicating activities or medications designated for the morning hours.

• amb: Signifies ambulatory, referring to patients who are able to walk and move around.

• amt: Abbreviation for amount, specifying quantity in medical contexts.

• A&O: Awake and oriented, indicating a patient's alertness and awareness of their surroundings.

• AV: Anteriorvenous, relating to anatomy involving the front of the veins.

• AP: Stands for anterior-posterior, a term used in medical imaging and diagnostics.

• APAP: Refers to acetaminophen, a common pain reliever and fever reducer.

• approx: Approximately, often used in clinical assessments to indicate estimations.

• as tol: Means as tolerated, referring to the limits of activities or medications based on patient comfort and condition.

• ASA: Aspirin, a medication used for pain relief, anti-inflammatory, and blood-thinning purposes.

• ASHD: Ateriosclerotic heart disease, a form of cardiovascular disorder resulting from narrowed arteries.

• AST: Indicates aspartate aminotransferase, an enzyme found in the liver that is measured to assess liver function.

• BCCA: Branch-chained amino acids, essential nutrients important for muscle growth and recovery.

• BE: Barium enema, a medical imaging procedure used to visualize the lower gastrointestinal tract.

• BID: Twice a day, denoting the frequency of dosing for medications.

• BKA: Below knee amputation, removing a limb below the knee joint.

• BM: Bowel movement, indicating the act of excreting waste material.

• BMI: Body mass index, a key measure for assessing body weight in relation to height.

• BP: Blood pressure, the force of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, an important health indicator.

• BPH: Benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition characterized by an enlarged prostate, often affecting older men.

• BS: Bowel sounds, noises produced by the movement of the intestines.

• BUN: Blood urea nitrogen, a measurement of waste products in the blood, often used to assess kidney function.

• Bx: Biopsy, a procedure to remove tissue for examination to diagnose diseases.

• c: Indicates "with," often used in written prescriptions.

• CA: Stands for cancer, a broad term for diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth.

• Ca: Refers to calcium, an essential mineral important for bone health and other bodily functions.

• CABG: Coronary artery bypass graft, a type of surgery to improve blood flow to the heart.

• CAD: Coronary artery disease, a disease that affects the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle.

• cal: Abbreviation for calorie, a unit of energy measurement in nutrition.

• cap: Short for capsule, a common form of medication delivery.

• CBC: Complete blood count, a comprehensive blood test used to assess overall health.

• CHF: Congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart's ability to pump blood is impaired.

• CHO: Carbohydrate, a major macronutrient important for energy.

• Chol: Stands for cholesterol, a fatty substance essential for cell structure but can contribute to heart disease when levels are too high.

• CNS: Central nervous system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and transmitting information.

• C/O: Complaints of, often used in patient assessments to document symptoms.

• COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a progressive lung disease characterized by breathing difficulties.

• CP: Cerebral palsy, a group of disorders affecting movement and muscle tone.

• CRI: Chronic renal insufficiency, a gradual and progressive loss of kidney function.

• CT: Computed tomography, an imaging method that uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of the body.

• CVA: Cerebrovascular accident, commonly known as a stroke, resulting from reduced blood flow to the brain.

• CVD: Cardiovascular disease, a general term for conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels.

• CVI: Cerebrovascular insufficiency, a reduction of blood flow to the brain.

• CXR: Chest X-ray, an imaging test to evaluate the lungs and heart.

• DAT: Diet as tolerated, indicating a flexible dietary approach depending on patient capability.

• D/C: Discontinue, a term used to stop medications or treatments.

• DHT: Dobhoff tube, a type of feeding tube used for patients needing nutritional support.

• DJD: Degenerative joint disease, a common form of arthritis characterized by the deterioration of cartilage.

• DKA: Diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious condition caused by insufficient insulin, leading to high blood sugar and ketone levels.

• DM: Diabetes mellitus, a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar (glucose).

• DNR: Do not resuscitate, a medical order to withhold resuscitation attempts.

• DOB: Date of birth, a key piece of patient identification information.

• DVT: Deep vein thrombosis, a condition involving blood clots in the deep veins, often in the legs.

• Dx: Diagnosis, the identification of a disease or condition by a physician.