ac

before meals (ante cibum)

Ante is a prefix for: before

Cibum is latin for food, victuals, nutriment, fodder

AMA

The American Medical Association (AMA), founded in 1847 and incorporated 1897, is the largest association of physicians and medical students in the United States. While its membership has declined in recent years, it claims approximately 20% of practicing physicians as members.

ARRT

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) promotes high standards of patient care by recognizing qualified individuals in medical imaging, interventional procedures, and radiation therapy.

CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or CDC) is a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services based in Atlanta, Georgia.

DOA

Dead on arrival or DOA is a term used to indicate that a patient was found to be already clinically dead upon the arrival of professional medical assistance, often in the form of first responders such as emergency medical technicians, paramedics, or police.

ENT

Ear, nose, & throat.

ER

Emergency room

Gyn

Gynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system (uterus, vagina, and ovaries). Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women".

ICU

The Intensive Care Unit is an area of the hospital where a patient will be monitored closely for a critical medical condition.

IM

Intramuscular (or IM) injection is the injection of a substance directly into a muscle. In medicine, it is one of several alternative methods for the administration of medications (see Route of administration). It is used for particular forms of medication that are administered in small amounts.

IV

Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the giving of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein".

NPO

Nothing by mouth. (fasting)

Ob-Gyn

Obstetrics and gynecology

Obstetric: Of, or relating to obstetrics (the care of women during and after pregnancy)

gynecology: The branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and hygiene of women

OR

Operating room

PRN

Pro re nata is a Latin phrase that literally means "for the thing born". It is commonly used in medicine to mean "as needed" or "as the situation arises."

PT

Physical therapy (also physiotherapy) is a health care profession that provides treatment to individuals to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and function throughout life.

Pt

A patient is any person who receives medical attention, care, or treatment.

Px, PE

Physical examination or clinical examination is the process by which a doctor investigates the body of a patient for signs of disease. It generally follows the taking of the medical history as well as an account of the symptoms as experienced by the patient.

RN

A Registered Nurse (RN), is a health care professional responsible for implementing the practice of nursing through the use of the nursing process in conjunction with other health care professionals.

Rx

A prescription is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other medical practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient. Prescriptions may include orders to be performed by a patient, caretaker, nurse, pharmacist or other therapist.

BP

Blood pressure (BP) is a force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. During each heartbeat, BP varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure.

Bx, bx

A biopsy is a medical test involving the removal of cells or tissues for examination. It is the medical removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease.

C

Celsius (also known historically as centigrade) is a temperature scale that is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-1744), who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death.

CA

Cancer is any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division; it may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream.

CT, CAT

Computed tomography or computed axial tomography : A method of examining body organs by scanning them with X rays and using a computer to construct a series of cross-sectional scans along a single axis

DOB

Date of Birth

CXR

In medicine, a chest radiograph, commonly called a chest x-ray (CXR), is a projection radiograph of the chest used to diagnose conditions affecting the chest, its contents, and nearby structures. Chest radiographs are among the most common films taken, being diagnostic of many conditions.

Dx

In medicine, diagnosis (plural, diagnoses) is a label given for a medical condition or disease identified by its signs, symptoms, and from the results of various diagnostic procedures.

F

Fahrenheit is the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by, and named after, the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736). Today, the temperature scale has been replaced by the Celsius scale in most countries.

H&P

History and physical

Hx, hx

History

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI), is primarily a medical imaging technique most commonly used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structure and limited function of the body.

R

In physiology, respiration (or just breathing) is defined as the transport of oxygen from the outside air to the cells within tissues, and the transport of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction.

stat

Immediately

T

Temperature

VS

Vital signs are measures of various physiological statistics, often taken by health professionals, in order to assess the most basic body functions.

abd

The abdomen is the region of the body of a vertebrate between the thorax and the pelvis.

AP

Anteroposterior: Relating to both front and rear.

CBC

A complete blood count (CBC), also known as full blood count (FBC) or full blood exam (FBE) or blood panel, is a test requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patient's blood.

FBC

A complete blood count (CBC), also known as full blood count (FBC) or full blood exam (FBE) or blood panel, is a test requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patient's blood.

FBE

A complete blood count (CBC), also known as full blood count (FBC) or full blood exam (FBE) or blood panel, is a test requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patient's blood.

CCU

A coronary care unit (CCU) is a hospital ward specialized in the care of patients with heart attacks, unstable angina and (in practice) various other cardiac conditions that require continuous monitoring and treatment.

LLQ

The left lower quadrant (abbreviated LLQ) of the human abdomen is the area left of the midline and below the umbilicus. The abdomen is divided into quadrants by doctors to localise pain and tenderness, scars, lumps and other items of interest.

LUQ

The Left upper quadrant of the human abdomen, often abbreviated as LUQ, is used to refer to a portion of the abdomen that allows doctors to localise pain and tenderness, scars, lumps and other items of interest.

PA

A physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional licensed to practice medicine with supervision of a licensed physician. Also known as a posteroanterior.

PT

Physical Therapists work with patients, families, and doctors to establish individual goals and a treatment plan to help the patient achieve maximize independence.

RBC

Red blood cells (also referred to as erythrocytes {e-rith-row-sites} ) are the most common type of blood cell and the vertebrate organism's principal means of delivering oxygen (O2) to the body tissues via the blood flow through the circulatory system.

RLQ

The Right lower quadrant of the human abdomen, often abbreviated as RLQ, is used to refer to a portion of the abdomen that allows doctors to localise pain and tenderness, scars, lumps and other items of interest.

RUQ

The right upper quadrant of the human abdomen, often abbreviated as RUQ, is used to refer to a portion of the abdomen that allows doctors to localize pain and tenderness, scars, lumps and other items of interest.

WBC

White blood cells (WBCs), or leukocytes {Luke-O-Site}(also spelled "leucocytes"), are cells of the immune system defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials.

WNL

Within normal limits: means that everything is okay. In other words, it is normal or within the limits of what is considered normal.

C-1, C-2 etc.

In vertebrates, cervical vertebrae (singular: vertebra) are those vertebrae immediately inferior to the skull.

CTS

Carpal tunnel syndrome: a painful disorder caused by compression of a nerve in the carpal tunnel; characterized by discomfort and weakness in the hands and fingers and by sensations of tingling, burning or numbness.

fx

A bone fracture (sometimes abbreviated FRX or Fx, Fx, or #) is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone.

L-1, L-2 etc.

The lumbar vertebrae are the largest segments of the movable part of the vertebral column, and are characterized by the absence of the foramen transversarium within the transverse process, and by the absence of facets on the sides of the body. They are designated L1 to L5, starting at the top.

LS

Lumbosacral: Region of lower back comprised of lumbar and sacral spine.

OT

Occupational therapy, often abbreviated as "OT", promotes health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful occupations. These include (but are not limited to) work, leisure, self care, domestic and community activities.

Ortho

Orthopedics is the study of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic doctors specialize in diagnosis and treatment of problems of the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system includes: bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.

ROM

Range of motion or (ROM), is the distance (linear or angular) that a movable object may normally travel while properly attached to another object. It is also called range of travel, particularly when talking about mechanical devices and in mechanical engineering fields

S

The Sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine and at the upper and back part of the pelvic cavity, where it is inserted like a wedge between the two hip bones. Its upper part connects with the last lumbar vertebra, and bottom part with the coccyx (tailbone).

Sacral: of or relating to or near the sacrum

T-1, T-2 etc.

Thoracic vertebrae: In human anatomy, twelve thoracic vertebrae compose the middle segment of the vertebral column, between the cervical vertebrae and the lumbar vertebrae.

CAD

Coronary artery disease (CAD)(or atherosclerotic heart disease) is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries that supply the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) with oxygen and nutrients.

CCU

A coronary care unit (CCU) is a hospital ward specialized in the care of patients with heart attacks, unstable angina and (in practice) various other cardiac conditions that require continuous monitoring and treatment.

An intensive care unit (ICU), critical care unit (CCU), intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit (ITU) is a specialized department used in many countries' hospitals that provides intensive care medicine.

CHF

Congestive heart failure is the inability to pump enough blood to avoid congestion in the tissue.

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure for people in cardiac arrest or, in some circumstances, respiratory arrest. CPR is performed both in hospitals and in pre-hospital settings.

CVA

Cardiovascular accident is when anything wrong happens to the cardiovascular. It may be a rupture of a vessel, loss of blood from the system or any other problem.

EKG

Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) is a transthoracic interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over time captured and externally recorded by skin electrodes. It is a noninvasive recording produced by an electrocardiographic device.

MI

Myocardial infarction (MI) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly known as a heart attack, is the interruption of blood supply to part of the heart, causing some heart cells to die.

P

In medicine, a person's pulse is the arterial palpation of a heartbeat. It can be felt in any place that allows for an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck (carotid artery), at the wrist (radial artery), behind the knee (popliteal artery), on the inside of the elbow...

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a pair of two commonly co-existing diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed. This leads to a limitation of the flow of air to and from the lungs causing shortness of breath.