1

Center for Healthcare Professions Cebu, Inc.

FCB Building.corP.Burgos Street and A.C Cortes Street ,Alang-Alang, Mandaue City
Tel No. (+6332) 420 1880 / (+6332) 420 1881
Email Ad: [email protected] / www.chpcebu.com

CAREGIVING NC- II

INSTRUCTIONAL NOTES
Medical Term
Module 3
2

MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY
ABBREVIATIONS
It is important to always document the care given to your loved-one (patient). Family
caregiving and home health care is no different than any other healthcare setting in terms
of documentation. Keeping good medical and health records can serve as a communication
tool, legal document, support for billing, and most importantly, a source for reference
during care plan and care team management.

It is important to document the facts and be accurate. It is also helpful to use the
common medical terms used by doctors and pharmacists. How well both you (caregiver)
and the care-receiver, and the doctor talk to each other is one of the most important parts
of getting good healthcare.

Here’s a list of some of the most common medical abbreviations and acronyms that can
help you take control of the care-receiver’s healthcare needs:

• Ac: before meals • hr: hour

• ad lib: at will, as desired • hs: hour of sleep
• adm: admission, admitted (bedtime)
• ASAP: as soon as possible • H20: water
• AOL: Activities of Daily Living • Hx: History
• Bid: twice a day • i: 1
• Bm: bowel movement • ii: 2
• BLS: Basic Life Support
• BP: blood pressure • iii: 3
• BRP: bathroom privileges • iv: 4
• C: Centigrade, Celsius • v: 5
• Cap: capsule • I & O: intake and output
• CC: chief complaint • IDDM: insulin dependent
• cc: cubic centimeter diabetes mellitus
• c/o: complains of • IV: intravenous
C02: carbon dioxide • IM: intramuscular
• CPR: cardiopulmary • Mg/mg: milligram
resuscitation • Ml: milliliter
• CXR: chest x-ray • MVA: motor vehicle
• d/c: discontinue or discharge accident
• Dx: diagnosis • NPO: nothing by mouth
• ECG or EKG: electrocardiogram • NTG: nitroglycerin
• EBL: estimated blood loss • NGT: Naso Gastric Tube
• ER: emergency room • O2: oxygen
• F: Fahrenheit • OD: right eye
• Fb: foreign body • OS: left eye
• fx: fracture • OU: both eyes
• gtt: drop-liquid measurement • post-op:
• H & P: history and physical postoperative (after
• HR: heart rate surgery)
• pre-op:
preoperative (before
surgery)
• po: by mouth
• pt: patient
• prn: as needed
• pc: after meals
3

• prn: as needed
• pc: after meals
• qd: every day
• qh: every hour
• qid: four times a day
• qod: every other day
• Rx: prescription, treatment
• R/T: Related To
• sc/sq: subcutaneous
• s: without
• sx: symptoms
• s/s: signs and symptoms
• stat/Stat: immediately
• SOB: short of breath
• STD: Sexually Transmitted
Disease
• susp: suspension
• supp: Suppository
• tab: tablet
• T3: Triiodothyronine
• T4: Thyroxine
• TPR: temperature,
pulse, respiration
• Tx: Treatment
• UA or U/A: Routine Urinalysis
• UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
• vs: vital signs
• VLDL: Very
Low-Density
Lipoprotein
• W/C: Wheel Chair
• WBC: White Blood Cell,
White Blood Count
• WNL: Within Normal Limits
• WPM: Words Per Minute
• wt: Weight
4

• HPI - history of present illness

• H/O - history of
General Terms • HR - heart rate or hour
These general medical terms are oftentimes
• HS - hour of sleep (bedtime)
• ICU - intensive care unit
abbreviated for ease of communication.
• IQ - intelligence quotient
• AA - amino acid • IU - international units
• ABG - arterial blood gas • MCO - managed care organization
• ADM - admission, admitted • MG - milligram
• ALS - advanced life support • MVA - motor vehicle accident
• AMA - against medical advice • ML - milliliter
(or American Medical • NKDA - no known drug allergies
Association) • NTG - nitroglycerin
• ASAP - as soon as possible • O2 - oxygen
• A&W - alive and well • OPD - outpatient department
• C - centigrade, celsius • P - pulse
• CC - cubic centimeter, • Post-op - postoperative (after
chief complaint, critical surgery)
care • Pre-op - preoperative (before
• C/O - complains of, care of surgery)
• CO2 - carbon dioxide • PA or PT - patient
• D/C - discontinue or discharge • PCP - primary care physician
• DNR - do not resuscitate • PPE - personal protection equipment
• DO - disorder • RBC - red blood cell
• DOA - dead on arrival or date • RF - risk factor
of admission • S - without (sans)
• DOB - date of birth • SX - symptoms
• DOT - directly observed therapy • S/S - signs and symptoms
• DSM - Diagnostic and • STAT - immediately
Statistical Manual of Mental • T - temperature
Disorders • TPR - temperature, pulse, respiration
• EDC - estimated date of confinement • USOH - usual state of health
• EDD - estimated delivery date • VS - vital signs
• EGA - estimated gestational age • VSS - vital signs stable
• ER - emergency room • WB - whole blood
• F - fahrenheit • WBC - white blood cell
• H&P - history and • WNL - within normal limits
physical examination
5

• SC/SQ - subcutaneous
Prescription • TAB - tablet
• TIW - three times a week

These abbreviations are used in the context of

prescription drugs.

• ABX - antibiotics
• AC - before meals
• Ad lib - at will, as desired
• BID - bis in dies (twice a day)
• CAP - capsule
• GTT - drop-liquid measurement
• i-1
• ii - 2
• iii - 3
• iv - 4
• v-5
• MDD - maximum daily dose
• NPO - nothing by mouth
• OCP - oral contraceptive pill
• OPV - oral polio vaccine
• OTC - over the counter
• PC - after meals
• PCN - penicillin
• PNV - prenatal vitamins
• PO - per os (by mouth)
• PRN - as needed
• q2h - every 2 hours
• q3h - every 3 hours
• qam - every morning
• qd - once a day
• qh - once every hour
• qhs - at bedtime
• qid - four times a day
• qod - every other day
• qpm - every evening
• RDI - recommended daily intake
• Rx - prescription, treatment
6

Care • PAP - pulmonary artery pressure;

Papanicolaou test
• PEEP - positive end expiratory
pressure
When it comes to medical care, a variety of • PT - physical therapy
medical abbreviations are also commonly
used.

• AXR - abdominal x-ray T&C - type and cross (blood)

• BAC - blood alcohol content
• TPA - tissue
• BC - birth control
plasminogen activator
• BE - barium enema
(dissolve clots), total
• BMT - bone marrow transplant
parenteral alimentation
• Bx - biopsy
• BRP - bathroom privileges (intravenous nutritional
• CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation needs)
• UA - urinalysis
• CXR - chest x-ray
• US - ultrasound
• ECC - emergency cardiac care
• ECG or EKG - electrocardiogram XRT - external radiation
• ECMO - extracorporeal therapy
membrane oxygenation
• ECT - electroconvulsive therapy
• ECV - external cephalic version
• FB - foreign body
• FNA - fine needle aspiration
• FOBT - fecal occult blood testing
• GLT - glucose loading test
• GTT - glucose tolerance test
• H20 - water
• I&D - incision and drainage
• IM - intramuscular
• I&O - intake and output
• IV - intravenous
• IUPC - intrauterine pressure catheter
• In vitro - in the laboratory
• In vivo - in the body
• KUB - kidney, ureter, bladder (x-ray)
• OGTT - oral glucose tolerance test
7

• DTR - deep tendon reflex

• DVT - deep venous thrombosis
Diagnosis or Condition • Dx - diagnosis
• EBL - estimated blood loss
• EBV - Epstein-Barr virus
• EC - eye contact
When describing the condition of a patient or • ECASA - enteric coated
assigning a diagnosis, medical staff may use acetylsalicylic acid
some of these abbreviations. • EGC - early gastric cancer
• FAS - fetal alcohol syndrome
ADHD - attention deficit
• • FB - foreign body
hyperactivity disorder • F/C - fever, chills
• AF - acid-fast
• FEF - forced expiratory flow
• AIDS - acquired immune
• FHR - fetal heart rate
deficiency syndrome • FM - fetal movement
• ALS - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis • FRC - functional residual capacity
(Lou Gehrig's disease) • FSE - fetal scalp electrode
• A&O - alert and oriented • FSH - follicle stimulating hormone
• AOB - alcohol on breath • FT - full term
• ARDS - adult respiratory • FX - fracture
distress syndrome • GA - gestational age
• ARF - acute renal failure, • GH - growth hormone
acute rheumatic fever • GHRH - growth hormone releasing
• BAD - bipolar affective disorder hormone
• BM - bowel movement • GI - gastrointestinal
• BP - blood pressure • GLT - glucose loading test
• CA - cancer • GSW - gunshot wound
• CAB - carotid artery bruit • GTT - glucose tolerance test
• CABG - coronary artery bypass graft • GU - genitourinary
• CAD - coronary artery disease • HA - headache
• CBC - complete blood count
• CF - cystic fibrosis
• C/F - chills, fever
• CFT - complement fixation testing
• CHD - congenital heart disease
-CHF - congestive heart failure
• COLD - chronic obstructive
lung disease
• COPD - chronic
obstructive pulmonary
disease
• CP - chest pain
• CP - cerebral palsy
• C/S - cesarean section
• CV - cardiovascular
• CVA - cerebral vascular
accident (stroke)
8

HA - hemolytic anemia
•
• HAV - hepatitis A virus • PMS - premenstrual syndrome
• HBV - hepatitis B virus • PTSD - post-traumatic stress
• Hb - hemoglobin disorder
• HCV - hepatitis C virus • RA - rheumatoid arthritis

• HDL - high density lipoprotein • RAD - reactive airway disease

• HDV - hepatitis D virus • RDS - respiratory distress
• HIV - human immunodeficiency virus syndrome
• HPA - hypothalamic suppression test • REM - rapid eye movements

• HR - heart rate • RHD - rheumatic heart disease

• HTN - hypertension • RXN - reaction

• IBD - inflammatory bowel disease • SAB - spontaneous abortion

• IBS - inflammatory bowel syndrome • SBO - small bowel obstruction

• ICP - intracranial pressure • SBS - shaken baby syndrome

• IDDM - insulin dependent diabetes mellitus • SOB - shortness of breath

• IPF - idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis • STD - sexually transmitted

• IUI - intrauterine insemination

disease
• TAH - total abdominal
• IUP - intrauterine pregnancy
• IVF - in vitro fertilization hysterectomy
• IVIG - intravenous immune globulin • TB - tuberculosis

• IVP - intravenous push • TBI - traumatic brain injury

• JCV - JC virus • TGA - transient global amnesia

• JRA - juvenile rheumatoid arthritis • UC - ulcerative colitis

• JVD - jugular venous distension • UO - urine output

• KS - Kaposi sarcoma • URI - upper respiratory

• LAD - leukocyte adhesion deficiency infection

• LBP - lower back pain • UTI - urinary tract infection

• LBW - low birth weight • VB - vaginal bleeding

• LIH - left inguinal hernia • VBAC - vaginal birth after

• LOF - loss of fluid caesarean section

• MD - muscular dystrophy • VF - ventricular fibrillation

• MR - mental retardation VH - vaginal hysterectomy,

• MS - multiple sclerosis hallucination
• NAD - no acute distress
• Nat/O - birth
• NIDDM - non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
• NM - neuromuscular
• N/V - nausea vomiting
• NVD - normal vaginal delivery
-OCD - obsessive compulsive disorder
• ON - optic neuritis
• OSA - obstructive sleep apnea
• PD - Parkinson's disease
• PE - pulmonary embolism
• PKD - polycystic kidney disease
• PID - pelvic inflammatory disease
• PIH - pregnancy induced hypertension
9

Body Description
Medical professionals may refer to
different parts of the body using
abbreviations too.

• ABD - abdomen
• AD - right ear
• AL - left ear
• AU - both ears
• BMD - bone mass density
• BMI - body mass index
• BMR - basal metabolic rate
• CBD - common bile duct
• CBF - cerebral blood flow
• FL - femur length
• FROM - free range of motion
• HC - head circumference
• IBW - ideal body weight
• LLL - left lower lobe
• LLQ - left lower quadrant
• LUL - left upper lobe
• LUQ - left upper quadrant
• LV - left ventricle
• OD - right eye
• OS - left eye
• OU - both eyes
• PNS - peripheral nervous system
• RA - right atrium
• RUL - right upper lobe
• RUQ - right upper quadrant
• RV - right ventricle, residual volume
• TLC - total lung capacity
• UE - upper extremity
• WT - weight
10

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

> professional language that helps us communicate effectively and quickly

> used in recording orders, writing instructions, taking notes & charting

PRONUNCIATION
> ch: k - chyme, cholecystectomy, chemotherapy, chronic
> ps: s - psychiatric, pseudomonas, psoriasis
> pn: n - pneumonia, pneumatic
> c: s - when it comes before e, i, y - cycle, cytoplasm, cisternal,centrifuge
> g: j - when it comes before e, i, y - giant, gestation, gyration
> I: eye when added to the end of the word to form a plural - glomeruli,villi, alveoli, bacilli

SINGULAR → PLURAL
> English language - add s; wavelength
> Latin
End of the word → what to do

a add - e axilla - axillae

ax drop ax and add aces thorax - thoraces

nx change x to g and add phalanx - phalanges

ices
ix or ex drop ix or ex and add ices appendix - appendices

y drop y and add ies myringotomy -

myringotomies
us drop us and add i alveolus - alveoli

on drop on and add a ganglion - ganglia

is drop is and add es metastasis - metastases

um drop um and add a ischium - ischia

FORMING MEDICAL TERMS FROM WORD ELEMENTS

> PREFIX - ROOT - ROOT - SUFFIX
> Root - main part of the word and tells what the word is about; subject of theword you are going to
build; cardio - heart; pulmo - lung
> Prefix - word element added to the beginning of a root word; change themeaning or make it
more specific; micromini - small; electro - electricity
> Suffix - word element added to the end of a root word; changes or addsmeaning; gram -
record
> Combining vowel - makes it possible to combine several root words, making it easier to
pronounce “ELECTR/O/CARDIO/O/GRAM
11

COMBINING WORD ELEMENTS

> most common combining vowel - o, i, y, u; osteomyelitis; osteoporosis; adenopathy;
hepatorrhagia
> when suffix begins with vowel a, e, i, o, u the o on the root word is not used myelo + itis = myelitis;
osteo + it is = osteitis

Prefix Meaning Prefix Meaning

a, an without macro large

ab away from mal bad

ad toward micro small

ante before mono one, single

anti against neo new

bi both, two ortho straight

brady slow pan all

circum around para beside, beyond

con with peri around

contra against poly many

diplo double post behind, after

dors back pre before, in front of

dys painful, difficult pro forward

ecto outside pseudo false

endo inside, within retro backward

epi upper, above semi half

ex out from sub below

hemi half super above

hyper excessive, supra above

above,more
than
hypo deficient, tachy rapid
below, less than

inter between trans across

intra inside, within

12

Root Meaning Root Meaning

acro extremities lapar abdomen

aden gland laryng larynx

angio vessel (blood) leuko white

ankyl crooked, looped lingua tongue

arterio artery lip fat

arthro joint lith stone

aud, aur ear, hearing lymph fluid

blepharo eyelid mamm, mast breast

brachi arm melan black

bronchi bronchial mening membrane (pertaining

to thecovering of the
brain or spinal cord)
bucca cheek meno, mens menstruate

carcin cancer myelo bone marrow

cardio heart myo muscle

caud tail nares nose, nostrils

cephal head necr death

cerebro brain nephro kidney

cervic neck neuro nerve

cheil lip ocul eye

chole bile odont tooth

cholecyst gallbladder oophoro ovary

chondro cartilage ophthal eye

coccus round orchis testes

col colon osteo bone

colp vagina oto ear, hearing

costo ribs ovario ovary

cranio skull ovi egg

cut skin part birth, labor

cyan blue ped, pod foot

cysto bladder, sac ped child

cyt, cyte cell phagia swallow

13

dacry tear duct pharyng pharynx

dactyl fingers, toes phasia speak

dent tooth phleb vein

derma skin pleur pleura of the lung

dextr right pneumo lung

duoden duodenum procto rectum

edema swelling psycho mind, soul

electr electric pulm lung

emesis vomit pyelo pelvis of the

kidney

enter intestine pyo pus

erythro red ren kidney

esophag esophagus rhin nose

esthesi feeling salpingo tube

faci face semin seed

fascia band, fibrous soma body

gastro stomach spleen spleen

gingiva gum spondyl spine

gloss tongue squam scaly

gyne woman stoma mouth

hemo blood stric narrowing

hepat liver therm heat

hydro water thorac thorax

hystero uterus, womb thrombo clot

iri iris (eye) trachi trachea

kerat cornea, scaly vas vessel

14

Suffix Meaning Suffix Meaning

labia lip vesic bladder, sac

lacrim tear viscera organ

lacto milk

a, ac pertaining to orrhaphy suture

al like, similar, orrhea flow

pertaining
to
algia pain osis condition of

cele hernia ostomy surgical opening

cente puncture otomy incision into

crine secrete pathy disease

desis surgical fixation penia deficiency

ectomy surgical removal pexy fixation

emia blood phobia fear

genesis, genic source, origin plasty surgical repair

gram, graph pictures plegia paralysis

ia a disease; an ptosis drooping down

unhealthy state
or condition

ic, ical, is pertaining to sarcoma tumor, cancer

itis inflammation sclerosis hardening

lysis destruction scope picture,

inspection

malacia softening spasm contraction

megaly enlarged stasis stoppage

oid like, similar -um pertaining to

ology study of uria urine

15

Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning

abd. abdomen med. medicine

a.c. before meals min. minute

ADL activities of NA nurse aide/

dailyliving nursing assistant

ad lib as desired ngt nasogastric tube

adm admission noct, noc night

am/AM morning NPO nothing by

(midnight to mouth
noon)

approx. approximately O2 oxygen

ax axillary, armpit Ob obstetrics

bid/BID twice a day OOB/oob out of bed

bm/BM bowel movement OPD outpatient

department

B/P blood pressure OR operating room

BR, br bed rest ord. orderly

BRP bathroom ORTH orthopedics

privileges

ºC celsius O.T. occupational

degree, therapy
centigrade
ć with pc after meals

CA cancer PEDS pediatrics

16

Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning

cath. catheter per by, through

CBC complete pm/PM afternoon (noon

blood count to midnight)

cc cubic centimeters po by mouth

CCU coronary care post after

unit

c/o complains of postop, PostOp postoperative

CO2 carbon dioxide pre before

CPR Cardiopulmona preop, PreOp before surgery

r y resuscitation

CS central supply prn whenever,

necessary, when
required

CVA cerebrovascular Pt, pt patient

accident/stroke

dc, d/c discontinue P.T. physical therapy

Del. Rm. delivery room q every

Dr. doctor qd every day

dx diagnosis q2h every 2 hours

ECG/EKG electrocardiogra q3h every 3 hours

m

EEG electroencephalo q4h every 4 hours

gram

EENT eye, ear, qhs every night at

nose, and bedtime
throat
ER emergency room qid, QID four times a day

ºF fahrenheit degree qod, QOD every other day

ft foot qs quantity
sufficient
17

Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning

fx fracture r rectal

GI gastrointestinal RN registered nurse

GU genitourinary ROM range of motion

Gyn gynecology R.R. recovery room

H2O water, aqua Rx prescription or

treatment
ordered by a
physician

hr hour s without

hs bedtime, hour sob shortness of

of sleep breath

ht height spec specimen

hyper above, high ŝŝ one half

hypo below, low stat at once

ICU intensive care surg surgery

unit

I&O intake & output tid/TID three times a day

IV intravenous TLC tender loving

care

lab laboratory VS vital signs

liq. liquid WBC white blood

count

LPN licensed practical w/c wheelchair

nurse

LVN licensed wt weight

vocational nurse

M.D. medical doctor

18

Activity 3.0

Directions. Give the meaning of the following words. Write your answers on a sheets of paper.

NAME: DATE:

SECTION:

TOPIC: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS

I. Give the Meaning:

1. osteosarcoma
2. myoid
3. intracranial
4. laparoscopy
5. mammogram
6. gingivitis
7. cardiogenic
8. splenectomy
9. bronchitis
10. Cholelithotomy
11. tracheostomy
12. thyroadenitis

13. electrocardiogram
19

II. Give the Medical Term:

1. Heart enlargement
2. surgical removal of the
uterus
3. inflammation of the
meninges
4. softening of the bones
5. Between organs
6. surgical opening of the
colon
7. hardening of the artery
8. surgical repair of the ear

19