Common Medical Abbreviations and Definitions
a
before
@
at
A:
assessment
AA
Alcholics Anoymous
AAROM
active assistive range of motion
AA
of each
ab
abortion
abd
abdomen
abd
abduction
ABG
arterial blood gases
ac
before meals
AC joint
acromioclavicular joint
ACTH
adrenocorticotrophic hormone
add
adduction
ADH
antidiuretic hormone
ADL
activities of daily living
ad lib
as desired
adm
admission
ADT
admission, discharge, transfer
AE
above elbow
AFB
acid-fast bacilli
AFB
acid-fast bacilli
AFO
ankle foot orthosis
A/G
albumin globulin ration
AIDS
autoimmune deficiency syndrome
AIIS
anterior inferior iliac spine
AJ
ankle jerk
AK
above knee
alb
albumin
alka phos
alkaline phosphatase
AM
between midnight-noon
AMA
against medical advice
a.m.
morning
amb
ambulate
amp
ampule
amt
amount
ANS
autonomic nervous system
ant
anterior
AP
anteroposterior
A&P
anscultation and percussion
aq
aqueous
AROM
active range of motion
ARM
artificial rupture of membranes
ASA
aspirin
ASAP
as soon as possible
ASHD
arteriosclerotic heart disease
ASIS
anterior superior iliac spine
assist.
assistance
as tol
as tolerated
AV
arteriovenous
ax
axillary
BE
barium enema
BE
below elbow
Bib.
Drink
bihor
during two hours
bid
twice a day
bilat.
bilateral
BK
below knee
BM
bowel movement
B.M.R.
basal metabolic rate
BP
blood pressure
BR
bedrest
BRP
bathroom privileges
BS
blood sugar
B/S
bedside
bpm
beats per minute
BRP
bathroom privileges
BUN
blood urea nitrogen
Bx
biopsy
b.v.
vapor bath
c
with
C
Celsius'
C
Centigrade
C&S
culture and sensitivity
C1-C7
cervical vertebrae
Ca
calcium
cal
calorie
cap
capsule
caps.
capsule
CAPD
continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
cath
catheterization
CBC
complete blood count
CBI
closed brain injury
CBR
complete bed rest
CBS
chronic brain syndrome
CC
chief complaint
CC
colony count
CCU
coronary care unit
CEA
carcinoma embryonic antigen
CHO
carbohydrate
chemo
chemotheraphy
chol
cholesterol
CIP
computerized impedance plethysmography
circ
circumcision
cl
clinic
Cl
chloride
cl liq
clear liquid
cm
centimeter
CMV
cytomegalovirus
CNA
certified nursing assistant