angiotensin converting enzyme

vasodilator OR vasoconstrictor

ACTH 

adrenocorticotropic hormone

    * hormone produced & secreted by the pituitary            gland               

AD

right ear 

ADH

antidiueretic hormone

    * regulates body's retention of water 

ad lib

freely, as wanted 

ADR

adverse drug reaction

active defense reaction 

Ag

antigen

    * molecule that sometimes stimulates an

       immune response
 

A:G ratio

albumin to globulin ration 

ALB

albumin

    * protein created by the liver 

AL

left ear 

ALP/ALK Phos

alkaline phosphatase

    * enzyme in the cells lining the biliary ducts 

ALT

    alanine aminotransferase

    * enzyme present in hepatocytes

    * when cells are damaged, it leaks into

       the bloodstream 

amp

ampule

    * a small glass sealed vial used to preserve or

       contain a fluid 

ANS

autonomic nervous system

    * part of the peripheral nervous system that

       act as a control system, maintaining the

       homeostasis of the body

AP

anterior-posterior

arterial pressure 

AU

each ear 

AV

pertaining to the atrium and the ventricle 

BAR

bright, alert, responsive 

BBB 

blood brain barrier

     * a membranic structure that acts primarily to

       protect the brains from chemicals in the blood,

       while still allowing metabolic functions

BP

blood pressure   

    * force exerted by circulating blood on the walls

      of the blood vessels 

BSA

body surface area

    * calculated surface of the body 

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

    * nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea

      (substance secreted by the liver), and is

      removed from the blood by the kidneys 

BUTE

phenylbutazone

    * NSAID that is used for chronic pain 

Ca

calcium

    * structural element in bone

    * radio-opaque
 

Caps

capsules

    * a small gelatinous case enclosing a dose

      of medication 

CBC

complete blood count

    * gives information about the cells in a

       patient's body 

cc

cubic centimeter 

CHF

congestive heart failure

    * a disorder where the ability of the heart to

      fill with or pump blood through the body is

      impaired
 

CI

cardiac insufficiency

    * condition where the heart is not able to

       achieve it's full potential 

CNS

central nervous system

    * largest part of the nervous system, including

       the brain and the spinal cord

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

    * consists of artificial blood flow and respiration 

Creat

creatinine

    * produced by the muscle 

    * mainly filtered by the kidneys 

CRF

chronic renal failure

    * a condition in which over a period of time there

       is a loss of renal function

    * measured in 5 stages 

CSF

colony stimulating factor 

CTZ

chemoreceptor trigger zone

    * an area of the brain which receives input from

       blood-borne drugs or hormones; communicates

       with vomit center to initiate vomiting

CVP

central venous pressure

    * the pressure of blood int the thoracic

       vena cava, near the R atrium of the heart 

CVS

cardiovascular system

    * organs and tissues that circulate substances

       through the body and between cells 

DES

diethystibesterol 

    * orally active syntetic NSAID estrogen

     * proved succesful in tx for female canines with

        incontenence due to poor sphincter contril 

DIC

disseminated intravascular coagulation

    * a pathological process where the blood begins

       to clot throughout the entire body 

DMSO

dimethyl sulfoxide

    * chemical compound

    * disolves both polar & non-polar compounds 

DS

dose

    * amount of medication given

days not acceptable 

DV

dorsal ventral

    * from spine towards abdomen 

ECF

extracellular fluid

    all body fluids outside of cells

EDTA

ehthylenediaminetertraccetic acid

anti-coagulant 

Fx

fracture

cracked or broken bone 

G/gm

gram

unit of mass 

gal

gallon

unit of liquid measure 

GFR

glomular filtration rate

volume of fluid filtered from the glomular capillaries into Bowman's capsule

(msm't of renal function) 

GI

gastrointestinal

system that ingest, digests, and absorbs food, and eliminates waster 

gtt

guttae

drops 

h

hour 

Hb

hemoglobin

iron containing mettaloprotein in RBCs

transports O2 from the lungs to the rest of the body 

Hx

history 

IC

intracardiac

into the heart 

ID

intradermal

into the skin 

ICF

intracellular fluid

all fluid inside a cell 

IM

intramuscular

into the muscle 

IV

intravenous

into the vein 

K

potassium

chemical element whose ions are vital to keeping cells alive 

Kg

kilogram

basic unit of mass

lb/2.2=kg 

L/Lt

left 

LRS

lactated ringer's solution

isotonic fluid, administered mostly IV 

mcg

microgram

1/1,000,000 of a gram

one of the smallest units of weight/mass 

Mg

magnesium

essential element

present in every cell type in eveyry organism

MIC

mininmal inhibitory concentration

the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial

that will inhibit the growth of a

microorgansim 

ml

mililiter

1/1,000 of a liter 

Na

sodium

ions are necessary for regulation of blood and body fluids, heart activity, and certain metabolic functions

electrolyte 

NPO

nothing by mouth

nulla per orem 

NS

normal saline

0.9% NaCl

used in patients with severe dehydration 

OB

obstetrics

surgical specialty dealing with the care of a pregnant female & offspring during pregnancy, birth, and puerperium 

OD

right ear

ocualr dexter 

OL

left eye 

OS

left ear

ocular sinister 

OU

both eyes 

P

phosphorus

component if genetic material

essential for many intracellular processes

supplied by the diet 

PCV

packed cell volume

a measure of the proportion of the whole blood volume that is occupied by RBC 

PE

( 2 tems) 

pulmonary edema

swelling/fluid accumulation in the lungs

physical exam

 process by which the doctor investigates the body of a patiet for signs of disease

per os

by mouth

per orem 

PG

prostaglandin

hormone 

PHS

parasympathetic nervous system 

prn

as needed

pro re nata: as the situation arises 

PO

(2 terms) 

post-operative

per os (by mouth) 

q

every 

R/Rt

right 

RBC

red blood cells

most numerous cells in the body

carries oxygen in the blood throughout the body 

Rx

prescription

(take, dr's orders) 

SC/SQ

subcutaneous

under the skin 

SNS

sympathetic nervous system

responsible for automatic regulation

(homeostasis) 

stat

immediately

(statum) 

tab

tablet

a mixture of substances, ususally in a powder form,

that is pressed or compacted into a tablet 

tid

thrice daily

TP

total protein

measurement of the tototal amount of protein (plasma made up of ALB and globulin)

in blood plasma or serum 

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration

3 of the 4 vital signs

(4th is BP) 

Tx

treatment 

 UA

urinalysis

breakdown of urine for study 

URI

upper respiratory infection

illness caused by an acute infection which involves the nose, sinuses, pharynx,and larynx 

UTI

urinary tract infection

a bacterial infection that affects any part

of the urinary tract 

VD

ventral dorsal

from the abdomen towards the back 

WBC

white blood cells

 (leukocytes)

cells of the immune system that defend the body from both infectious diseases and foregin materials

produced in the bone marrow 

WNL

within normal limits