Search results
Feb 8, 2024 · Abbreviations and acronyms are commonly used in medical notes. If you are unfamiliar with common abbreviations, it can make understanding medical notes challenging. We’ve curated a list of medical abbreviations/acronyms to help you understand entries in the medical notes.
- Meaning
- On examination
- Blood pressure
- Respiratory rate
Prefix or Suffix. Definition. Example. a-. not, an absence of, Avascular. -aemia. related to blood. Bacteraemia.
This is a list of roots, suffixes, and prefixes used in medical terminology, their meanings, and their etymologies. Most of them are combining forms in Neo-Latin and hence international scientific vocabulary. There are a few general rules about how they combine.
- Appy: a person's appendix or a patient with appendicitis.
- Baby Catcher: an obstetrician.
- Bagging: manually helping a patient breathe using a squeeze bag attached to a mask that covers the face.
- Banana: a person with jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Abbreviations and Acronyms
- Diseases and Conditions
- Medical Slang
- Prefixes and Suffixes
- Procedures and Tests
- Root Words
- Tools and Equipment
AC:Ante cibum, or "before meals," indicating when a patient should take medicationADR:Adverse drug reactionALOC:Acute loss of consciousnessBMI:Body mass index, a measurement of body fat based on height and weightAcute:A condition that is often severe but starts and ends quicklyAngina:Intermittent chest pain normally caused by insufficient blood flow to the heartBenign:Refers to a tumor that is neither cancerous nor malignantChronic:Describes a condition that is persistent or recurringAfib:Atrial fibrillation, irregular and rapid heartbeatsBagging:Helping a patient breathe using a squeeze bag attached to a face maskC-section:Caesarian section, where a baby is delivered through an abdominal and uterine incisionDetox:Detoxification, the removal of toxins from the body, such as drugs or alcoholA- or an-:Lacking or withoutAb-:Away from-algia:Indicates pain or a painful conditionCardio-:Related to the heartAppendectomy:Surgical procedure to remove the appendixBiopsy:Removal of a small tissue sample for testingBlood culture:Test to reveal the existence of fungi or bacteria in the blood, possibly indicating an infectionBlood swab:Taking a blood sample using a cotton-tipped stickAqua-:Pertaining to waterAsphyxia:Choking or loss of consciousness due to oxygen deprivationCarcin(o)-:Related to or causing cancerCyto-:Pertaining to a cell or cellsBlood lancet:A double-edged blade or needle used to obtain blood samplesDefibrillator:A device that discharges an electric current to the heart to correct cardiac arrhythmia or arrestDialyser:A machine that replaces the function of the kidneys by removing solutes, excess water and toxins from the bloodEndoscope:An optical instrument containing a tube with a lighted end used for internal examinationsImportant Medical Terms. These key terms and medical abbreviations were compiled from a variety of sources, including leading medical institutions and dictionaries. Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen. Abrasion: Damage from a scrape. Abscess: A swollen area within tissue containing pus. Acute: Severe or intense.
Abbreviations, acronyms, and medical terminology are used for many conditions, and for instructions on medication prescribed by your doctor. This is a shortlist of common abbreviations you may have seen on a doctor's notepad; a prescription drug package or bottle; lab or other test results; or in your doctor's notes.
