Å, symbol for angstrom.

a, symbol for arterial blood, as in PaO2.

a-, 1. a prefix meaning ‘before’ from Latin, ante. 2. a prefix
meaning ‘without,’ ‘lack of,’ ‘not,’ from Greek a: aphasia.
A, α. See alpha.
A68, symbol for a protein found in the brain tissue of
patients with Alzheimer’s disease. It is also found in the
developing normal brains of fetuses and infants but begins
to disappear by the age of 2 years. It is a major subunit of
paired helical filaments and derivatized forms of tau protein.
See also tau protein.
AA, 1. abbreviation for achievement age. 2. abbreviation
for Alcoholics Anonymous. 3. abbreviation for amplitude
of accommodation. 4. abbreviation for anesthesiologist
assistant. 5. abbreviation for amino acid. 6. abbreviation
for anterior apical. 7. abbreviation for aortic arch.
8. abbreviation for arm-ankle (pulse rate).
AAA, 1. abbreviation for American Association of Anatomists.
2. abbreviation for acquired aplastic anemia.
3. abbreviation for abdominal aortic aneurysm.
āa, aa, AA, (in prescriptions) abbreviation for ana, indicating
an equal amount of each ingredient to be compounded.
AAAI, abbreviation for American Academy of Allergy
and Immunology.
AACE, 1. abbreviation for American Association of Clinical
Endocrinologists; 2. abbreviation for Association for the
Advancement of Computing in Education.
AACN, 1. abbreviation for American Association
of Colleges
of Nursing. 2. abbreviation for American
Association
of Critical Care Nurses.
AAFP, abbreviation for American Academy of Family
Physicians.
AAI, abbreviation for ankle-arm index. See ankle-brachial
index.
AAIN, abbreviation for American Association of Industrial
Nurses.
AAL, abbreviation for anterior axillary line.
AAMC, abbreviation for American Association of Medical
Colleges.
AAMI, abbreviation for Association for the Advancement
of Medical Instrumentation.
AAN, abbreviation for American Academy of Nursing.
AANA, abbreviation for American Association of Nurse
Anesthetists.
AANN, 1. abbreviation for American Association of Neuroscience
Nurses. 2. abbreviation for American Association
of Neurological Nurses.
AAO–HNS, abbreviation for American Academy of
Otolaryngology–
Head and Neck Surgery.
AAOMS, abbreviation for American Association of Oral
and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
AAPA, abbreviation for American Academy of Physician
Assistants.
Aaron’s sign [Charles D. Aaron, American physician, 1866–
1951], a clinical sign in acute appendicitis indicated by
referred pain or feeling of distress in the epigastric or precordial
region when continuous firm pressure is applied over
McBurney’s point. See also McBurney’s point.
AARP, a voluntary U.S. organization of older persons, who
may or may not be retired, with the goal of improving the
welfare of persons over 50 years of age. Among other actions,
the group seeks out lower cost car, travel, and health insurance
for its members. The AARP advocates for older individuals
on legislative, consumer, education, and legal issues.
Formerly called American Association of Retired Persons.
Aarskog’s syndrome /ärs′kog/ [Dagfinn Charles Aarskog,
Norwegian pediatrician, b. 1928], an X-linked syndrome
characterized by wide-set eyes, anteverted nostrils, broad
upper lip, peculiar scrotal “shawl” above the penis, and small
hands. Also called faciodigitogenital syndrome, faciogenital
dysplasia.
AART, abbreviation for American Association for Respiratory
Therapy.
Aase’s syndrome /äz/ [Jon Morton Aase, American pediatrician,
b. 1936], a familial syndrome characterized by
mild growth retardation, hypoplastic anemia, variable leukocytopenia,
triphalangeal thumbs, narrow shoulders, and late
closure of fontanels, and occasionally by cleft lip, cleft palate,
retinopathy, and web neck. A recessive mode of inheritance
has been suggested.
AAUP, abbreviation for American Association of University
Professors.
AAV, abbreviation for adenoassociated virus.
Ab, abbreviation for antibody.
ab-, abs-, prefixes meaning ‘from, off, away from’:
abstract, abnormal.
abacavir, an antiviral that is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase
inhibitor.
n indication: It is prescribed in combination with other
antiretroviral agents for HIV-1 infection.
n contraindication: Known hypersensitivity to this drug
prohibits its use.
n adverse effects: Hypersensitivity reactions occur in
approximately 5% of patients, and can be fatal. Other lifethreatening
adverse effects include granulocytopenia, anemia,
and lactic acidosis. Common side effects include fever,
headache, malaise, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
anorexia, and rash.
abacterial /ab′aktir′ē·əl/, any atmosphere or condition free
of bacteria; literally, without bacteria.
abaissement /ä′bāsmäN′/ [Fr, a lowering], 1. a falling or
depressing. 2. (in ophthalmology) the displacement of a lens.
abalienation /abāl′yənā′shən/, a state of physical deterioration
or mental decay. —abalienate, v., abalienated, adj.
Ab amyloid, an abnormal peptide, varying from 40 to 43
amino acids in length and found in aggregates in the cerebrovascular
walls and the cores of the plaques in Alzheimer’s
disease. It is derived from a large transmembrane glycoprotein,
amyloid precursor protein. It is postulated to be
neurotoxic.
A band, in muscle tissue, the area between two I bands of a
sarcomere, marked by partial overlapping of actin and myosin
filaments and appearing dark. Compare I band.
abandonment of care /əban′dənment/, 1. (in law) wrongful
cessation of the provision of care to a patient by a health
care provider, usually a physician or a nurse. 2. unilateral