BASIC MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Abrasion Scrape of the skin due to something abrasive

Acute New, usually of rapid onset and of concern,
opposite of chronic
Anterior Located towards the front of the body
Benign Normal, of no danger to health
Bradycardia Slow heart-rate (HR less than 60bpm)
Cardiomegaly Enlarged heart
Cholecystitis Inflammation of the cholecyst (gallbladder)
Chronic Long-standing, constant. Opposite of acute
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, lung Dz
commonly seen in smokers
Coronary artery The artery that supplies heart tissue with blood
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) a.k.a. "Stroke". Lack of blood supply to the brain
causing brain damage
Diaphoresis Sweating
Distal Farther from the trunk of the body
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) A blood clot in a deep vein, most often an
extremity
Dyspnea Problems with breathing
Dysuria Painful urination
Ecchymosis A bruise
Edema Swelling
Emesis Vomiting
Epistaxis Nose bleed
Erythema/Erythematous Redness/Red
Grossly Obviously; a lot; wholly
Hematemesis Very large amounts of blood in the vomit
Hematuria Very large amounts of blood in the urine
Hemoptysis Coughing up very large amounts of blood
Hemorrhage Excessive or profuse bleeding
Hepatomegaly Enlarged liver
Hypertension High blood pressure
Hypotension Low blood pressure
Hypoxia Low oxygen saturation of the body, not enough
oxygen in the blood
Infarct Area of dead tissue after a lack of blood supply
Inferior Lower on the body, farther from the head
Ischemia Lack of blood supply
Laceration Splitting of the skin due to trauma (a cut due to
something sharp)
Lateral Farther from the midline (a line that can be traced
from nose to belly-button)
Medial Nearer to the midline
Melena Black tarry stool
Myocardial Infarction (MI) Death of cardiac muscle due to ischemia
Myalgia Muscular pain, muscle aches
Oriented x3 Oriented to person, place, and time
Pallor Pale skin
Pulmonary Embolism (PE) Blocking of a pulmonary artery due to a blood
clot
Posterior/Dorsal Rear or backside of the body
Proximal Nearer to the trunk of the body
Purulent Pus-like
Rales Crackles; wet crackling noise in lungs
Rhinorrhea Clear nasal discharge, "runny nose"
Rhonchi Rattling noise of mucous in the lungs
Sepsis Dangerous infection of the blood
STEMI ST elevation MI, real-time ongoing death of heart
tissue due to ischemia
Superior Higher on the body, nearer to the head
Supine Body position lying face up
Syncope "Passing out", loss of consciousness or fainting
Tachycardia Fast heart rate (HR greater than 100bpm)
Tachypnea Increased breathing rate
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Minor stroke; where neurological function is
regained quickly with time
Vertigo Condition of dizziness, "room spinning"
Wheezing High pitched sound heard in the lungs with
asthmatics or lung disease























BASIC MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS
Down, Below, Less, Decrease,
Lower
Up, Above, More, Increase,
Higher
> Greater Than
< Less Than
~ Approximately
Change
Before
AAA Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
A Fib Atrial Fibrillation
Abd Abdomen, Abdominal
Abx Antibiotics
AMA Against Medical Advice
AMS Altered Mental Status
ASA Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)
BID Twice Daily
Bilat LE Bilateral Lower Extremities
BM Bowel Movement
BP Blood Pressure
c With
CA Cancer, Carcinoma
CABG Coronary Arterial Bypass Graft,
Open heart surgery
CAD Coronary Artery Disease, heart
disease
CT or CAT Computerized Assisted
Tomography
CHF Congestive Heart Failure
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease
CP Chest Pain
CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
C-section Caesarean Section
CSF Cerebrospinal Fluid
CVA Cerebrovascular Accident -or-
Costovertebral Angle
CXR Chest X-Ray
c/o Complains of
C-Spine Cervical Spine (neck)
DKA Diabetic Ketoacidosis
DM Diabetes Mellitus
DNR Do Not Resuscitate
DOE Dyspnea On Exertion
DVT Deep Venous Thrombosis
Dx Diagnosis
Dz Disease
EKG/ECG Electrocardiogram
EtOH Alcohol
FHx Family History
Fx Fracture
GI Gastrointestinal
G/P/Ab Gravida/Para/Abortion
GSW Gun Shot Wound
GU Genitourinary
HA Headache
HEENT Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat
HPI History of Present Illness
HTN Hypertension
Hx History
H&H Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
H&P History of Present Illness and
Physical Exam
I&D Incision and Drainage
IDDM Insulin Dependent Diabetes
Mellitus
IUP Intrauterine Pregnancy
IVDA IV Drug Abuse
JVD Jugular Vein Distension
LLE Left Lower Extremity
LLQ Left Lower Quadrant
LNMP Last Normal Menstrual Period
LOC Loss of Consciousness
LP Lumbar Puncture
LUE Left Upper Extremity
LUQ Left Upper Quadrant
MCA Motorcycle Accident
MI Myocardial Infarction
MVA/MVC Motor Vehicle
Accident/Collision
N/A Not Applicable
NAD No Acute Distress, No Acute
Disease
NIDDM Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes
Mellitus
NKDA No known Drug Allergies
Nml -or- nl Normal
NSAID Non Steroidal Anti-
Inflammatory Drug
NSR Normal Sinus Rhythm
NTG Nitroglycerin
N/V/D Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
O2 Sat Oxygen Saturation (a.k.a. SaO2)
OD Overdose
p Post, After
PCP Primary Care Physician (a.k.a.
PMD)
PE Pulmonary Embolism -or-
Physical exam
PERRL Pupils are equal, round, and
reactive to light
PO Per Os (by mouth)
prn As needed
pt Patient
PTA Prior To Arrival
qd Every Day
qh Every Hour
qhs At Every Bedtime
q2h Every 2 Hours
QID Four Times a Day
RLE Right Lower Extremity
RLQ Right Lower Quadrant
ROM Range of Motion
ROS Review of System
RUE Right Upper Extremity
RUQ Right Upper Quadrant
Rx Prescription
r/o Rule Out
s Without
SOB Shortness of Breath
s/p Status Post (after)
Sx Symptoms
TIA Transient Ischemic Attack
TID Three Times a Day
TM Tympanic membrane
Tx Treatment
UA Urinalysis
URI Upper Respiratory Infection
US Ultrasound
UTD Up to Date
UTI Urinary Tract Infection
WNL Within Normal Limits