A&P anatomy and physiology �

a before ��
aa of each (used in writing prescriptions)
abd abdomen ABG arterial blood gas ac before meals ACLS
ad lib ADL
AED AF AIDS advanced cardiac life support
as much as desired
activity of daily living
automated external de.brillator atrial .brillation acquired immunode.ciency
syndrome AK
AKA A-line
AMA amb AMI above the knee
above the knee amputation arterial line
against medical advice ambulatory acute myocardial infarction AMS

ant AO � 4 AP
APC
Aq ARDS
ASA ASAP ASHD
AV, A-V BBB
bid BKA
BM
BP BS
BSA bx
�
�C Ca
CA altered mental status
anterior
alert and oriented to person,
place, time, and self anteroposterior, front-to�back, action potential, angina
pectoris, anterior pituitary, arterial pressure
atrial premature complex, activated protein C, aspirin-phenacetin-caffeine
water
adult respiratory distress syndrome aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) as soon as
possible arteriosclerotic or
atherosclerotic heart disease atrioventricular, arteriovenous bundle branch block
twice daily
below the knee amputation
bowel movement
blood pressure
blood sugar, breath sounds, bowel sounds, bachelor of science (degree)
body surface area
biopsy
with
degrees Celsius (centigrade) calcium
cancer, cardiac arrest, chronologic age, coronary artery, cold agglutinin CABG
CAD CBC cc
CC or C/C
CCU CHF
Cl� cm cm3
CNS c/o
CO CO2
COLD
COPD CP
CPR CRNA CRT CSF
CSM
CVA coronary artery bypass graft
coronary artery disease
complete blood count
cubic centimeter
chief complaint
coronary care unit congestive heart failure
chloride centimeter cubic centimeter
central nervous system complaining of
cardiac output, carbon monoxide
carbon dioxide
chronic obstructive lung disease
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
chest pain, chemically pure, cerebral palsy
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
certi.ed registered nurse anesthetist
capillary re.ll time, cathode-ray tube
cerebrospinal .uid
carotid sinus massage, cerebrospinal meningitis
cerebrovascular accident CVP
CXR D&C D/C
diff
dig DM
DOA DOE DON
DOS DPT
DSD DtaP
DTP
DTs DVT
D5W Dx ECG ED
EDC
EEG central venous pressure
chest x-ray dilation and curettage discontinue
differential
digoxin diabetes mellitus
dead on arrival dyspnea on exertion director of nursing
dead on scene diphtheria, pertussis,
and tetanus toxoids vaccine dry sterile dressing
diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis vaccine
diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and pertussis vaccine
delirium tremens
deep venous thrombosis
dextrose 5% in water diagnosis electrocardiogram emergency department
estimated date of con.nement electroencephalogram

eg for example
EKG electrocardiogram
ENT ears, nose, and throat
ER emergency room
ET endotracheal tube,
endotracheal
ETA estimated time of arrival
ETOH ethyl alcohol
ETT endotracheal tube
�F degrees Fahrenheit
FIO2 fraction of inspired
oxygen
FBS fasting blood sugar
Fe iron
FHR fetal heart rate
FHT fetal heart tones
FHx family history
fL femtoliter
. .uid
. d .uid
FSH follicle-stimulating
hormone
fx fracture
g gram
GB gallbladder
GI gastrointestinal
gm gram
gr grain
GSW gunshot wound
gtt drop(s)
GTT glucose tolerance test
GU genitourinary
gyn gynecology

h (H)
H H&H
H&P
H/A Hb Hct
Hg Hgb
HH HIV
H2O
H2O2 HPI
hr hs HTN Hx
Hz I&O
IC
ICP ICU IDDM
IM IO IPPB
IUD
IV
hour hypodermic
hypodermic
hemoglobin and hematocrit history and physical
headache hemoglobin hematocrit
mercury hemoglobin
hiatal hernia human
immunode.ciency virus water hydrogen peroxide history of present
illness hour at bedtime hypertension history
hertz intake and output
intracardiac, inspiratory capacity, irritable colon
intracranial pressure intensive care unit insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus intramuscular intraosseous intermittent positive
pressure breathing
intrauterine (contraceptive) device intravenous
JVD K+ KCl kg
KUB
KVO L LAC
lb LE
LLL LLQ
L/M LMP LOC
LPM LPN LR LSD
LUL LUQ
LVN
m MAE MAEW
MAP mcg MCL
mEq
mg jugular venous distention potassium
potassium chloride kilogram
kidneys, ureters, and bladder
keep vein open liter laceration, laparoscopic�
assisted colectomy pound lower extremity, left eye, lupus
erythematosus left lower lobe of the lung left lower quadrant of the
abdomen
liters per minute last menstrual period level of consciousness, loss of
consciousness liters per minute licensed practical nurse lactated Ringer�s lysergic
acid diethylamide
left upper lobe of the lung
left upper quadrant of the abdomen licensed vocational nurse
meter moves all extremities moves all extremities well
mean arterial pressure microgram midclavicular line, modi.ed
chest lead milliequivalent
milligram (mgm is a former symbol)

MI myocardial infarction
MICU mobile intensive care unit;
medical intensive care unit
min minute
mL milliliter
mm millimeter
mm Hg millimeters of mercury
MRI magnetic resonance
imaging
MS morphine sulfate, multiple
sclerosis
MSO4 morphine sulfate
MVA motor vehicle accident
MVC motor vehicle crash
MVP mitral valve prolapse
N normal
Na sodium
NA, N/A not applicable
NaCl sodium chloride
NAD no apparent distress, no
appreciable disease
NaHCO3 sodium bicarbonate
NC nasal cannula
NG nasogastric
NICU neonatal intensive care unit
NIDDM non�insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus
NKA no known allergies

NKDA NPA NPO NS NSR NTG N/V N/V/D NVD

O2
OB OBS OD
OP OPA OR
OS
OU oz
�
p pc
PCO2 PDR no known drug allergies
nasopharyngeal airway
nil per os (nothing by mouth) normal saline
normal sinus rhythm
nitroglycerin
nausea and vomiting
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea neck vein distention
oxygen
obstetrics organic brain syndrome overdose, right eye,
optical density, outside diameter, doctor of optometry
outpatient oropharyngeal airway operating room
left eye
both eyes ounce
after after meals
partial pressure of carbon dioxide
Physicians' Desk Reference
PE pulmonary embolism,
physical examination
PEA pulseless electrical activity
PEARL pupils equal and reactive
to light
ped(s) pediatric
PEEP positive end-expiratory
pressure
PERL pupils equal and reactive
to light
PERRL pupils equal, round, and
reactive to light
pH hydrogen ion
concentration
PID pelvic in.ammatory
disease
PND paroxysmal nocturnal
dyspnea
po per os (by mouth)
PO postoperative, �post op�
PO2 partial pressure of oxygen
PRN pro re nata (as needed)
psi pounds per square inch
PSVT paroxysmal
supraventricular
tachycardia
pt patient
PT physical therapy
PTA prior to admission,
plasma thromboplastin
antecedent
PTT partial thromboplastin
time
PVC premature ventricular
complex, polyvinyl
chloride
PVD peripheral vascular disease
q every

Abbreviation
qd
qh qid qod
RA RAD RBC
Rh RHD RL
RLL RLQ RN
R/O ROM RUL RUQ Rx
�
s SC
SICU
SIDS
SL SOB SQ ss S/S

Meaning
every day every hour
four times a day every other day
rheumatoid arthritis,
right atrium reactive airway disease, right axis deviation
red blood cell
Rhesus blood factor, rhodium rheumatic heart disease
Ringer�s lactate
right lower lobe of the lung right lower quadrant of
the abdomen registered nurse rule out range of motion, rupture
of membranes
right upper lobe of the lung right upper quadrant of
the abdomen prescription without subcutaneous, secretory
component
surgical intensive care unit sudden infant death
syndrome sublingual shortness of breath subcutaneous half signs and symptoms

Abbreviation
stat
STD Sub Q SVT
Sx sym tab
TB TBA tbsp
tech TIA tid
TKO TPR tsp
Tx U UA UE
URI USP UTI
VD vol VS w/

Meaning
immediately
sexually transmitted disease subcutaneous supraventricular
tachycardia symptoms
symptoms
tablet tuberculosis
to be admitted, to be announced
tablespoon technician, technologist
transient ischemic attack three times a day
to keep open temperature, pulse, respiration
teaspoon
treatment
unit urinalysis upper extremity
upper respiratory
infection United States Pharmacopeia
urinary tract infection venereal disease volume vital signs with

Abbreviation
WBC
WNL w/o wt
yo �
x
1� 2�
. .
� �

L
! "
#
~
2 /
% & '
?
( )
! "

Meaning
white blood cell
within normal limits without weight
year old except .rst, .rst degree, primary
secondary, second degree increase(d) decrease(d)
no, not, none right left
micro alpha beta
approximately times two per not equal
greater than less than questionable, possible
change negative female male