REPUBLIC of the PHILIPPINES

City of Makati
UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI
COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH STUDIES
College of Allied Health Studies
J.P Rizal Extension, West Rembo, Makati City 1215
Telephone No.: (+632) 881 1571

CENTER OF NURSING

List of Common Medical Abbreviations

& Terminology
Medical Author:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Medical Editor:
Jay W. Marks, MD

Submitted by:
Templo, Sheana Camille T.
3AN3

Submitted to:
Prof. Carlo T. Molina, RN, MAN

11-22-16
lungs might have abnormal bibasilar breath
sounds.
a.c.: Before meals. As in taking a medicine

BKA: Below the knee amputation.

before meals.

BMP: Basic metabolic

panel. Electrolytes (potassium, sodium, carbon

a/g ratio: Albumin to globulin ratio.

dioxide, and chloride) and creatinine

and glucose.

ACL: Anterior cruciate ligament. ACL injuries

BP: Blood pressure. Blood pressure is

are one of the most common ligament injuries

recorded as part of the physical examination. It

to the knee. The ACL can be sprained or

is one of the "vital signs."

completely torn from trauma and/or

BSO: Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A

degeneration.

BSO is the removal of both of the ovaries and

adjacent Fallopian tubes and often is performed

Ad lib: At liberty. For example, a patient may

as part of a total abdominal hysterectomy.

be permitted to move out of bed freely and

orders would, therefore, be for activities to be
ad lib.
AKA: Above the knee amputation.

C&S: Culture and sensitivity, performed to

Anuric: Not producing urine. A person who is

detect infection.

anuric is often critical and may require dialysis.

C/O: Complaint of. The patient's expressed

concern.
cap: Capsule.
CBC: Complete blood count.

b.i.d.: Twice daily. As in taking a medicine

Typically, it includes the following:

twice daily.

White blood cell count (WBC or leukocyte

Bandemia: Slang for elevated level of band

count)

forms of white blood cells.

WBC differential count

Bibasilar: At the bases of both lungs. For

Red blood cell count (RBC or

example, someone with a pneumonia in both

erythrocyte count)

Hematocrit (Hct)

tissue lining the inner surface of the womb

Hemoglobin (Hbg)

(uterus).

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)

DNR: Do not resuscitate. This is a specific

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)

order not to revive a patient artificially if they

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

succumb to illness. If a patient is given a DNR

concentration (MCHC)

order, they are not resuscitated if they are near

death and no code blue is called.

CC: Chief complaint. The patient's main

DOE: Dyspnea on exertion. Shortness of

concern.

breath with activity.

cc: Cubic centimeters. For example, the

DTR: Deep tendon reflexes. These are

amount of fluid removed from the body is

reflexes that the doctor tests by banging on the

recorded in ccs.

tendons with a rubber hammer.

Chem panel: Chemistry panel. A

DVT: Deep venous thrombosis (Blood clot in

comprehensive screening blood test that

large vein).

indicates the status of the liver, kidneys, and

electrolytes.
COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease. is a slowly progressive obstruction of
airflow into or out of the lungs.

ETOH: Alcohol. ETOH intake history is often

recorded as part of a patient history.

CVA: Cerebrovascular accident (Stroke).

occurs when part of the brain loses its blood
supply and stops working. This causes the part

FX: Fracture.

of the body that it controls to stop working as

well.
GOMER: Slang for "get out of my emergency
room."
D/C or DC: Discontinue or discharge. For

gtt: Drops.

example, a doctor will D/C a drug.

Alternatively, the doctor might DC a patient
from the hospital.
DDX: Differential diagnosis The variety
diagnostic possibilities being considered.
DM: Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes interferes
with the body's ability to metabolize
carbohydrates for energy, leading to high
levels of blood sugar. These chronically high
blood sugar levels increase a person's risk of
developing serious health problems.
DNC, D&C, or D and C: Dilation and
curettage. Widening the cervix and scrapping
with a curette for the purpose of removing

H&H: Hemoglobin and hematocrit. When

the H & H is low, anemia is present. The H&H
can be elevated in persons who have lung
disease from long term smoking or from
disease, such as polycythemia rubra vera.
H&P: History and physical examination.
h.s.: At bedtime. As in taking a medicine at
bedtime.
H/O or h/o: History of. A past event that
occurred.
HA: Headache. some common symptoms
include throbbing, squeezing, constant,

unrelenting or intermittent. The location may

Lytes: Electrolytes (potassium, sodium,

be in one part of the face or skull, or may be

carbon dioxide, and chloride).

generalized involving the whole head.

HTN: Hypertension. is defined as high
pressure (tension) in the arteries, which are the
vessels that carry blood from the heart to the
rest of the body.

MCL: Medial collateral ligament.

mg: Milligrams.
ml: Milliliters.
MVP: Mitral valve prolapse. is the most
common heart valve abnormality.

I&D: Incision and drainage.

IM: Intramuscular. This is a typical notation
when noting or ordering an injection (shot)
given into muscle, such as with B12
for pernicious anemia.
IMP: Impression. This is the summary
conclusion of the patient's condition by the
healthcare practitioner at that particular date
and time.
in vitro: In the laboratory.
in vivo: In the body.
IU: International units.

N/V: Nausea or vomiting.

Na: Sodium. An essential electrolyte
frequently monitored regularly in intensive
care.
npo: Nothing by mouth. For example, if a
patient was about to undergo a surgical
operation requiring general anesthesia, they
may be required to avoid food or beverage
prior to the procedure.
O&P: Ova and parasites. Stool O & P is
tested in the laboratory to detect parasitic
infection in persons with chronic diarrhea.
O.D.: Right eye.

K: Potassium. An essential electrolyte

O.S.: Left eye.

frequently monitored regularly in intensive

O.U.: Both eyes.

care.

ORIF: Open reduction and internal

KCL: Potassium chloride. is a major mineral

fixation, such as with the orthopedic repair of

(electrolyte) that is important for the function

a hip fracture.

of every cell in the body. For example, it is

important in nerve conduction, muscle
contraction, and kidney function.

P: Pulse. Pulse is recorded as part of the

physical examination. It is one of the "vital
signs."

LBP: Low back pain. LBP is one of most

p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology

common medical complaints.

per os.

LLQ: Left lower

p.r.n.: As needed. So that it is not always

quadrant. Diverticulitis pain is often in the LLQ

done, but done only when the situation calls for

of the abdomen.

it (or example, taking a pain medication only

LUQ: Left upper quadrant. The spleen is

when having pain and not without pain).

located in the LUQ of the abdomen.

PCL: Posterior cruciate ligament.

PERRLA: Pupils equal, round, and reactive

RUQ: Right upper quadrant. The liver is

to light and accommodation.

located in the RUQ of the abdomen.

Plt: Platelets, one of the blood forming

elements along with the white and red blood
cells.
PMI: Point of maximum impulse of the
heart when felt during examination, as in beats
against the chest.

s/p: Status post. For example, a person who

had a knee operation would be s/p a knee
operation.
SOB: Shortness of breath.
SQ: Subcutaneous. This is a typical notation
when noting or ordering an injection (shot)

q.d.: Each day. As in taking a medicine daily.

given into the fatty tissue under the skin, such

q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a

as with insulinfor diabetes mellitus.

medicine four times daily.

q2h: Every 2 hours. As in taking a medicine
every 2 hours.
q3h: Every 3 hours. As in taking a medicine
every 3 hours.
qAM: Each morning. As in taking a medicine
each morning.
qhs: At each bedtime. As in taking a medicine
each bedtime.
qod: Every other day. As in taking a
medicine every other day.
qPM: Each evening. As in taking a medicine
each evening.

R/O: Rule out. Doctors frequently will rule out

various possible diagnoses when figuring out
the correct diagnosis.
REB: Rebound, as in rebound tenderness of
the abdomen when pushed in and then
released.
RLQ: Right lower quadrant. The appendix is
located in the RLQ of the abdomen.
ROS: Review of systems. An overall review

T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as

part of the physical examination. It is one of
the "vital signs."
T&A: Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.
t.i.d.: Three times daily. As in taking a
medicine three times daily.
tab: Tablet.
TAH: Total abdominal hysterectomy.
THR: Total hip replacement.
TKR: Total knee replacement.

UA or u/a: Urinalysis. A UA is a typical part of

a comprehensive physical examination.
URI: Upper respiratory infection, such
as sinusitis or the common cold.
ut dict: As directed. As in taking a medicine
according to the instructions that the
healthcare practitioner gave in the office or in
the past.
UTI: Urinary tract infection.

concerns relating to the organ systems, such

as the respiratory, cardiovascular, and
neurologic systems.

VSS: Vital signs are stable. This notation

means that from the standpoint of the
temperature, blood pressure, and pulse, the
patient is doing well.

Wt: Weight. Body weight is often recorded as

part of the physical examination.

REFERENCE: Fauci, Anthony S., et al. Harrison's

Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. United
States: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2011.