List of medical abbreviations
This is a list of medical acronyms and abbreviations. Note that some items in the following list are informal or slang usage among medical or paramedical professionals (e.g., "GOMER").
Additional recommended knowledge
The US-based Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requires its members to follow a "do not use list":[1]
| "Do Not Use" List Official in the United States
|
| Do Not Use | Potential Problem | Use Instead
|
| U (unit) | Mistaken for “0” (zero), the number “4” (four) or “cc” | "unit"
|
| IU (International Unit) | Mistaken for IV (intravenous) or the number 10 (ten) | "International Unit"
|
Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily)
Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d, qod (every other day) | Mistaken for each other. Period after the Q mistaken for "I" and
the "O" mistaken for "I" (q.i.d. is four times a day dosing) | "daily"
"every other day"
|
Trailing zero (X.0 mg)
Lack of leading zero (.X mg) | Decimal point is missed | X mg
0.X mg
|
| MS | Can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate | "morphine sulfate"
|
| MSO4 and MgSO4 | Confused for one another | "morphine sulphate" and "magnesium sulfate"
|
| For possible future inclusion in the Official List:
|
> (greater than)
< (less than) | Misinterpreted as the number "7" (seven) or the letter "L".
Confused for one another | "greater than"
"less than"
|
| Abbreviations for drug names | Misinterpreted due to similar abbreviations for multiple drugs | Write drug names in full
|
| Apothecary units | Unfamiliar to many practitioners. Confused with metric units | metric units
|
| @ | Mistaken for the number "2" (two) | "at"
|
| cc | Mistaken for U (units) when poorly written | "mL" or "milliliters"
|
| µg | Mistaken for mg (milligrams) resulting in one thousandfold overdose | "mcg" or "micrograms"
|
Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
0–9
| Abbrv. | Meaning
|
| Δ | Diagnosis; Also can mean "change"
|
| ΔΔ | Differential diagnosis, i.e. the list of possible diagnoses
|
| # | Fracture
|
| #NOF | Fracture to the neck of the femur
|
| Ψ | Psychiatry
|
| Σ | Sigmoidoscopy
|
| x/12 | x number of months
|
| x/40 | x number of weeks of pregnancy
|
| x/52 | x number of weeks
|
| x/7 | x number of days
|
| 5-HT | Serotonin, 5-Hydroxytryptamine
|
A
| a | (a with a bar over it) before, from Latin, ante
|
| A | Adenosine
|
| AAOx3 | Awake, Alert and Oriented to person, place, and time
|
| A&Ox3 | Alert and Oriented to person, place, and time
|
| A&Ox4 | Alert and Oriented to person, place, time, and circumstances (often used interchangeably with A&Ox3)
|
| A&W | Alive and well
|
| a.a. | of each, from Latin, ana ana
|
| AAA | Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Pronounced "Triple A"
|
| AAT | activity as tolerated
|
| Ab | Antibody
|
| ABC | aspiration biopsy cytology
|
| ABCD | "Asymmetry, borders, color, diameter" features on considering "is it a Malignant Melanoma"?
|
| Abd | abdomen
|
| ABG | Arterial Blood Gas
|
| ABMT | Autologous bone marrow transplantation
|
| ABPI | Ankle brachial pressure index
|
| ABVD | doxorubicin bleomycin vinblastine dacarbazine First-line treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.
|
| ABX | antibiotics
|
| a.c. | before meal, from Latin, ante cibum
|
| ACE | Angiotensin converting enzyme
|
| ACEI | Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
|
| Ach | Acetylcholine
|
| ACL | Anterior cruciate ligament
|
| ACLS | Advanced cardiac life support
|
| ACTH | Adrenocorticotropic hormone
|
| ad. | right ear
|
| ad part. dolent | to the painful parts, from Latin, partes dolentes
|
| AD | Alzheimer's Disease
|
| ADA | Adenosine deaminase
|
| ADC | AIDS dementia complex
|
| ADCC | Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity
|
| ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder
|
| ADH | Antidiuretic hormone
|
| ADHD | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
|
| ADL | activities of daily living
|
| ad lib | as desired from Latin, ad libitum
|
| adm | admission
|
| ADR | Adverse drug reaction
|
| AEM | Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring
|
| AF | atrial fibrillation
|
| AF | atrial flutter
|
| AF | Amniotic fluid
|
| AFB | acid fast bacilli
|
| AFib | atrial fibrillation
|
| AFO | ankle-foot orthosis
|
| AFP | Alpha-fetoprotein
|
| Ag | Antigen
|
| AGA | Anti-gliadin Antibodies
|
| a.h. | every other hour, from Latin, alternis horis
|
| AHF | Antihemophilic factor
|
| AHG | Antihemophilic globulin
|
| AHH | aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase
|
| AI | Artificial insemination
|
| AI | Aortic insufficiency
|
| AICD | Automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
|
| AID | Artificial insemination by donor
|
| AIDS | Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
|
| AIH | artificial insemination by husband
|
| AIHD | artificial insemination by pooled husband and donor semen
|
| AIIRB | Angiotensin II receptor antagonist
|
| aka | also known as
|
| AKA | Above knee amputation
|
| ALG | Antilymphocytic globulin
|
| ALL | Acute lymphocytic leukemia
|
| ALP | Alkaline phosphatase
|
| ALPS | Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome
|
| ALS | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
|
| ALS | Advanced Life Support
|
| ALT | Alanine transferase
|
| altern. d. | every other day, from Latin, alterno die
|
| AMA | Advanced Maternal Age (35 years or greater)
|
| AMA | Against Medical Advice
|
| AMA | American Medical Association
|
| AMA | Anti-mitochondrial Antibodies
|
| AMC | Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita
|
| AMI | Acute myocardial infarction
|
| AML | Acute myelocytic leukemia
|
| AMP | Adenosine monophosphate
|
| AMS | Acute mountain sickness
|
| AMS | atypical measles syndrome
|
| ANA | Anti-nuclear antibody
|
| ANCA | Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies
|
| ANF | Atrial natriuretic factor
|
| ANP | Atrial natriuretic peptide
|
| ANS | Autonomic nervous system
|
| ANUG | Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
|
| a.p. | before dinner, from Latin, ante prandium
|
| AP | Alkaline phosphatase
|
| APC | Antigen-presenting cell
|
| APAP | acetaminophen, paracetamol; from the chemical name N-acetyl-para-aminophenol
|
| APD | adult polycystic disease
|
| APKD | adult polycystic kidney disease
|
| APECED | autoimmune polyendocrinopathy
|
| APH | Antepartum haemorrhage
|
| APLS | antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
|
| applic. | applicandus, from Latin, to be applied
|
| APSAC | Anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex
|
| APS | autoimmune polyglandular syndrome
|
| aPTT | Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time
|
| aq. | water, from Latin, aqua
|
| aq. bull. | boiling water, from Latin, aqua bulliens
|
| aq. calid. | warm or hot water, from Latin, aqua calida
|
| aq. dist. | distilled water, from Latin, aqua distillata
|
| aq. gel. | cold water, from Latin, aqua gelida
|
| AR | Aortic Regurgitation
|
| ARB | Angiotensin II receptor antagonist
|
| ARC | AIDS related complex
|
| ARDS | Acute respiratory distress syndrome
|
| ARF | Acute renal failure
|
| Arg | Arginine
|
| ART | antiretroviral therapy
|
| ART | assuming room temperature, i.e. the patient has died.
|
| ARM | Artificial rupture of membranes
|
| ASA | Acetylsalicylic acid - commonly known as aspirin
|
| AS | Aortic stenosis
|
| ASCAD | arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease
|
| ASD | Atrial septal defect
|
| ASGUS | Atypical squamous glandular cells of undetermined significance
|
| ASCUS | Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance
|
| ASL | American sign language
|
| ASO | Antistreptolysin-O
|
| ASOT | Antistreptolysin-O titre
|
| AST | Aspartate transaminase
|
| ASX | Asymptomatic
|
| ATA | Anti-transglutaminase antibodies
|
| ATCC | American Type Culture Collection
|
| ATG | Antithymic globulin
|
| AT-III | Antithrombin III
|
| ATP | Acute Thrombocytopenic Purpura
|
| ATP | Adenosine Triphosphate
|
| ATP | Anti-tachycardia pacing
|
| aur. | ear, from Latin, auris
|
| aur. dextro. | to right ear, from Latin, auris dextrae
|
| aur. laev | to left ear, from Latin, auris laevae
|
| aurist. | ear drops, from Latin, auristillae
|
| AVM | Arteriovenous malformation
|
| AVR | Aortic valve replacement
|
| AZT | Azidothymidine also know as Zidovudine
|
B
| Ba | Barium
|
| BAL | Bronchoalveolar lavage
|
| BAL | British anti-Lewisite
|
| BAL | Blood Alcohol Level
|
| BAO | Basic acid output
|
| BAT | Brown adipose tissue
|
| BCG | Bacille Calmette-Guerin (a tuberculosis vaccination)
|
| BCX | Blood culture
|
| BBMF | "Bone break, me fix" Orthopedic consent form
|
| b.d. | Twice daily, from Latin, bis die
|
| BD | Bipolar Disorder
|
| b.i.d. | Twice daily, from Latin, bis in die
|
| BE | Base excess
|
| BGL | Blood Glucose Level
|
| BIBA | brought in by ambulance
|
| BIB | Brought in by
|
| BK | Bacterium Koch
|
| BKA | Below Knee Amputation
|
| bl.cult | Blood culture
|
| bld | Blood
|
| BLS | Basic Life Support
|
| BMC | Bone mass content
|
| BMD | Bone mineral density (also termed bone mass measurement)
|
| BMI | Body mass index
|
| BMP | Blood Metabolic Profile
|
| BMR | Basal metabolic rate
|
| BMT | Bone marrow transplantation
|
| BNF | British National Formulary
|
| BNO | Bowel Not Open
|
| BNP | Brain natriuretic peptide
|
| BO | Bowel Open
|
| BOA | Born out of Asepsis
|
| BOI | Born on island, ie. a local patient.
|
| BOOP | Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia
|
| BP | Blood pressure
|
| BP | Bipolar disorder
|
| BPAD | Bipolar Affective Disorder
|
| BPD | Bi-Parietal Diameter
|
| BPD | Borderline personality disorder
|
| BPH | Benign prostatic hyperplasia
|
| BPM | Beats per minute
|
| BPPV | Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
|
| BRAT | Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, (dry) Toast: acronym for bland diet
|
| BRATY | Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, (dry) Toast, Yogurt: acronym for bland diet for children
|
| BRP | Bathroom Privileges
|
| BRBPR | Bright red blood per rectum
|
| BS | Breath or Bowel sounds on auscultation with stethoscope
|
| BS | Blood Sugar
|
| BSE | Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
|
| BSE | Breast self-examination
|
| BSL | Blood Sugar Level
|
| BSP | Bromsulphthalein
|
| BUN | Blood urea nitrogen
|
| BV | Bacterial vaginosis
|
| Bx | Biopsy
|
C
D
E
F
| FBC | Full blood count
|
| FBE | Full blood exam
|
| FBG | Fasting blood glucose
|
| F/C | Fevers or Chills
|
| FDIU | Foetal Demise In Utero
|
| FDP | Fibrinogen Degradation Products
|
| FEV1 | Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second
|
| Fe | Iron
|
| FF | Free Fluids (non-thickened fluids)
|
| FFA | Free fatty acids
|
| FFP | Fresh frozen plasma
|
| FHR | Fetal heart rate
|
| FHT | Fetal heart tones
|
| FHx | Family History
|
| FIBD | Found in Bed Dead
|
| FLK | Funny Looking Kid (suggesting an unspecified syndrome, should now be termed "dysmorphic features")
|
| FNA | Fine Needle Aspirate
|
| FNC | Full nursing care
|
| FOF | Found on Floor (Patient fell out of bed)
|
| FOS | Full of Stool
|
| FPG | Fasting plasma glucose
|
| FSE | Fetal Scalp Electrode
|
| FSH | Follicle stimulating hormone
|
| FTA-ABS | Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption
|
| FTA | Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody
|
| FUBAR | F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition, originally used to refer to corpses after horrendous (typically battlefield) trauma, but "FUBAR" is now sometimes used to describe very ill patients with little hope of recovery, including those that have not necessarily suffered trauma. Not very politically correct![citation needed]
|
| FVC | Forced Vital Capacity (Spirometry test value used in assessment of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
|
| FWB | Full weight bearing
|
| FWD | Full ward diet
|
| Fx | Fracture of a bone
|
G
| G | Gravidity (total number of pregnancies, successful or not)
|
| G6PD | Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase
|
| G | Guanosine
|
| GA | General anaesthesia
|
| GABA | gamma-aminobutyric acid
|
| GC | General Condition
|
| GCA | Giant cell arteritis
|
| GCS | Glasgow Coma Scale
|
| GDLH | Glutamate dehydrogenase
|
| G-CSF | Granulocyte - Colony Stimulating Factor
|
| GM-CSF | Granulocyte-Monocyte - Colony Stimulating Factor
|
| GERD | Gastroesophageal reflux disease
|
| GFR | Glomerular filtration rate
|
| GGT | Gamma glutamyl transferase
|
| GGTP | Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase
|
| GH | Growth hormone
|
| GHRF | Growth hormone releasing factor
|
| GI | Gastrointestinal
|
| GIT | Gastrointestinal Tract
|
| GITS | Gastrointestinal therapeutic system
|
| GIFT | Gamete intrafallopian transfer
|
| GMC | General Medical Condition (i.e., 0 GMC)
|
| GNRH | Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
|
| GDP | Guanosine Diphosphate
|
| GMP | Guanosine Monophosphate
|
| GOD | Glucose Oxidase
|
| GOMER | Get Outta My E.R. i.e. patient who frequently presents at the ER near death but manages to pull through each and every time.
|
| GOK | God only knows
|
| GORD | Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
|
| GOT | glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase
|
| GPT | glutamic-pyruvic transaminase
|
| GSW | gunshot wound see HVLT
|
| GTN | Glyceryl trinitrate
|
| GU | Genitourinary
|
| GUM | Genitourinary medicine (often used more restrictively as alternative to sexually transmitted disease clinic)
|
| GvH | Graft-versus-host
|
| GvHD | Graft-versus-host disease
|
H
I
J
K
| K | Potassium (from the word Kalium, in turn from "alkali" from Arabic al qalīy = "the calcined ashes")
|
| Kcal | Kilocalorie, Calorie
|
| kg | Kilogram
|
| KIV | Keep in view
|
| KUB | Kidneys, ureters, and bladder (x-ray)
|
L
M
N
O
| O2 | Oxygen
|
| OA | osteoarthritis
|
| OB-GYN | Obstetrics and gynecology
|
| OCD | Obsessive-compulsive disorder
|
| OD | right eye from Latin, oculus dexter
|
| OD | overdose
|
| od | every day, usually regarded as once daily, from the Latin, omni die. Generally written in lower case.
|
| O/E | on examination
|
| OGTT | Oral glucose tolerance test
|
| om | every morning, from the Latin, omni mane. Generally written in lower case.
|
| OME | Otitis Media with Effusion - fluid in the inner ear without other symptoms.
|
| on | every night, from the Latin, omni nocte. Generally written in lower case.
|
| OP | outpatient department
|
| OPPT | Oriented to Person Place and Time
|
| OS | left eye from Latin, oculus sinister
|
| OS | Orthopedic surgery
|
| OSA | Obstructive Sleep Apnea
|
| OSH | outside hospital
|
| OTC | Over-the-counter drug
|
| OTD | Out the Door (discharged)
|
| OTPP | Oriented to Time Place and Person
|
| OU | Both eyes, from Latin, oculi uterque
|
P
| p | (p with a bar over it) after, from Latin, post
|
| P | Parturition (total number of live births)
|
| P | Phosphorus
|
| P | Pulse
|
| PA | posterior-anterior
|
| PA | Pulmonary artery
|
| PAF | Platelet activating factor
|
| PAF | Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (meaning intermittent AF)
|
| PAH | Pulmonary arterial hypertension
|
| PAI-1 | Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1
|
| PAO | Peak Acid Output
|
| PAP | Papanicolaou stain
|
| Pap | Papanicolaou Test (pap smear)
|
| PAT | Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
|
| p.c. | After food, from Latin, post cibum
|
| PCI | Percutaneous coronary intervention
|
| PCL | Posterior cruciate ligament
|
| PCOS | Polycystic ovarian syndrome
|
| PCP | Pneumocystis pneumonia (formerly Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia)
|
| PCP | Primary Care Physician/Primary Care Provider
|
| PCR | Polymerase chain reaction
|
| PCWP | Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
|
| PDA | Patent ductus arteriosus
|
| PDE | Phosphodiesterase
|
| PDT | Photodynamic Therapy
|
| PE | Pulmonary Embolism
|
| PE | Pre-eclampsia
|
| PEEP | Positive end expiratory pressure
|
| PEF | Peak expiratory flow
|
| PEFR | Peak expiratory flow rate
|
| PERLA | Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light and Accommodation
|
| PERRLA | Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
|
| PET | Positron-emission tomography
|
| PFO | Patent foramen ovale
|
| PID | Pelvic inflammatory disease
|
| PIH | Pregnancy induced hypertension
|
| PIP | Proximal interphalangeal joint
|
| PKA | Protein kinase A
|
| PKD | Polycystic kidney disease
|
| PKU | Phenylketonuria
|
| PLT | platelets
|
| PMB | Post-menopausal bleeding (bleeding after menopause)
|
| PMH | [past medical history] or Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage
|
| PMI | Point of maximal impulse or apical beat
|
| PMN | Polymorphonuclear cells, ie Neutrophils
|
| PMR | Percutaneous Myocardial Revascularisation
|
| PMR | Polymyalgia Rheumatica
|
| PND | Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
|
| p.o. | By mouth (orally), from Latin, per os
|
| poly | Polymorphonuclear cells, ie Neutrophils
|
| POX | Peroxidase
|
| PPH | Post partum haemorrhage
|
| PPH | Primary Pulmonary hypertension
|
| PPI | Proton pump inhibitor
|
| PPROM | Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes
|
| PPTL | Post-Partum Tubal Ligation
|
| p.r. | per rectum (as noun: rectal examination)
|
| PRA | Plasma renin activity
|
| PRBCS | Packed Red Blood Cells
|
| PRIND | Prolonged Reversible Ischemic Neurologic Deficit
|
| prn | as necessary, from Latin, pro re nata (if used in chronic pain control disparagingly termed "pain relief nil")
|
| PROM | Premature Rupture of Membranes
|
| PRP | PanRetinal Photocoagulation
|
| PSA | Prostatic specific antigen
|
| PSP | Phenylsulphtalein
|
| PTB | Pulmonary Tuberculosis
|
| Pt. | Patient, from Latin patiens, meaning "one who endures" or "one who suffers"
|
| PTA | Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
|
| PTCA | Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
|
| PT | Prothrombin time
|
| PTH | Parathyroid hormone
|
| PTx | Pneumothorax
|
| PTT | Partial thromboplastin time
|
| PUD | peptic ulcer disease
|
| PUVA | Psoralen UV A
|
| p.v. | per vagina (as noun: vaginal examination with manual examination and speculum inspection)
|
| PVD | peripheral vascular disease
|
| PVR | Pulmonary vascular resistance
|
| PWP | Pulmonary Wedge Pressure
|
| Px, px | physical examination
|
| Px | Prognosis
|
Q
| q | each, every, {from Latin, quaque}
|
| q.a.d. | every other day, (from Latin, quaque altera die)
|
| QALY | Quality-adjusted life years
|
| q.AM | every AM, (from Latin, quaque ante meridiem)
|
| q.d. | each day, {from Latin, quaque die}
|
| q.d.s. | four times each day, {from Latin, quater die sumendus}
|
| q.h. | each hour, {from Latin, quaque hora}
|
| q.h.s. | every bedtime, {from Latin, quaque hora somni}
|
| q.i.d. | four times each day, {from Latin, quater in die}
|
| q.m.t. | every month
|
| q.w.k. | weekly
|
| q.o.d | every other day
|
R
S
| s | (s with a bar over it) without from Middle English sans, borrowed from Old French sans, Latin sine
|
| SAH | Subarachnoid hemorrhage
|
| SARS | Severe acute respiratory syndrome
|
| SBE | Subacute bacterial endocarditis
|
| SBP | Systolic blood pressure
|
| SBP | spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
|
| s.c. | subcutaneous from Latin, subcutis
|
| SCC | Squamous cell carciona
|
| SCID | Severe combined immunodeficiency
|
| Scope | Microscope or Endoscope
|
| SD | Standard deviation
|
| Segs | Segmented cells
|
| SGA | Small for gestational age
|
| SGOT | Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase
|
| SGPT | Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase
|
| SH | Social history (personal habits, living situation, job)
|
| SHBG | Sex Hormone Binding Globuline
|
| SHx | Surgical History
|
| SI | International System of Units, Suicidal ideation
|
| SIADH | Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
|
| SIDS | Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
|
| SIMV | Synchronized Intermittent Mechanical Ventilation
|
| SK | Streptokinase
|
| SLE | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
|
| SM | Multiple sclerosis from Latin, Sclerosis multiplex
|
| SMA | Sequential Multiple Analysis
|
| SMA-7 | Serum Metabolic Assay
|
| SMS | Senior medical student
|
| SMT | Spinal Manipulative Therapy
|
| SNP | Sodium Nitroprusside
|
| SNRI | Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
|
| SOAP | Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan (How Doctors notes are organized)
|
| SOB | Shortness of breath
|
| SOBOE | Short Of Breath On Exercise
|
| SOL | Space Occupying Lesion
|
| SOOB | Send Out Of Bed
|
| SOS | Save Our Souls, meaning "in case of emergency"
|
| SP | Status post
|
| SPET | Single photon emission tomography
|
| SQ | Subcutaneous
|
| SR | Slow Release
|
| SROM | Spontaneous rupture of membranes
|
| SSRI | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
|
| SSSS | Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome
|
| SSS | Sick Sinus Syndrome
|
| Staph | Staphylococcus
|
| STD | Sexually transmitted disease
|
| STH | Somatotropic hormone
|
| STI | Sexually transmitted infection
|
| STI | Soft tissue injury
|
| STOP | Surgical Termination Of Pregnancy (sometimes Suction Termination of Pregnancy)
|
| Strep | Streptococcus
|
| Subq | Subcutaneous
|
| SV | Seminal Vesicle
|
| SVD | Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery
|
| SVI | Systemic Viral Infection
|
| SVN | Small Volume Nebulizer
|
| SVR | Systemic vascular resistance
|
| SVT | Supraventricular tachycardia
|
| Sx | Surgery or Symptoms
|
| SXA | Single energy X-ray absorptiometer
|
| SXR | skull x-ray
|
T
U
V
W
Z
Latin abbreviations
Some of the following list are considered non-standardized abbreviations because their meanings could be easily misunderstood.
| Abbrev. | Meaning | Latin origin
|
| a.c. | Before food | ante cibum
|
| a.d. | Right ear | auris dexter
|
| ad lib. | Freely as wanted | ad libitum
|
| a.l. | Left ear | aurix laevus
|
| alt. die | Every other day | alternus die
|
| alt. h. | Every other hour | alternus horis
|
| a.m. | Morning | ante meridiem
|
| a.n. | Before the night | ante noctum
|
| aq. | Water | aqua
|
| a.s. | Left ear | auris sinister
|
| a.u. | Each ear | auris utro
|
| aurist. | Ear drops | auristillae
|
| b.d. or bd | Twice a day | bis die
|
| b.i.d. or bid | Twice a day | bis in die
|
| gtt. | Drop | gutta
|
| h. | Hour | hora
|
| h.s. | At bedtime | hora somni
|
| i.d. | during the day |
|
| i.d. | the same | idem
|
| I.D. | Infectious Disease |
|
| i.d. | intradermal, between layers of the skin |
|
| mane | In the morning | mane
|
| narist. | Nasal drops | naristillae
|
| Nocte | At night | nocte
|
| o.c. | Eye ointment | oculentum
|
| o.d. or od | Daily | omni die
|
| o.d. | Right eye | oculus dexter
|
| o.l. | Left eye | oculus laevus
|
| o.m. | In the morning | omni mane
|
| o.n. | At night | omni nocte
|
| o.s. | Left eye | oculus sinister
|
| o.u. | Each eye | oculus utro
|
| p.c. | After food | post cibum
|
| p.m. | Afternoon | post meridiem
|
| p.o. or po | Orally | per os
|
| p.r. | Rectally | per rectum
|
| p.r.n. | As occasion requires (as needed) | pro re nata
|
| p.v. | Vaginally | per vaginum
|
| q. | every | quaque
|
| q.2.h. | Every two hours | quaque 2 hora
|
| q.4.h. | Every four hours | quaque 4 hora
|
| q.6.h. | Every six hours | quaque 6 hora
|
| q.8.h. | Every eight hours | quaque 8 hora
|
| q.d. or qd | Every day | quaque die
|
| q.d.s. | Four times a day | quater die sumendus
|
| q.h. | Every hour, hourly | quaque hora
|
| q.i.d. or qid | Four times a day | quater in die
|
| q.q.h. | Every four hours | quarta quaque hora
|
| q.s. | A sufficient quantity | quantum sufficiat
|
| s.i.d. or sid | Once a day | semel in die
|
| Sig. or S. | Write on the label | signa
|
| SL. | Sublingual, under the tongue | sub linguam
|
| Stat. | Immediately, with no delay | statim
|
| t.d.s. | Three times a day | ter die sumendus
|
| t.i.d. or tid | Three times a day | ter in die
|
| top. | Topically, applied to the skin
|
| ut dict. or u.d. | As directed | ut dictum
|
| ung. | Ointment | unguentum
|
See also
|
