M
	m.	minim
	m,M	married, male, mother murmur, meter, mass, molar
	MA	mental age
	macro.	macrocytic, macroscopic
	MAP	mean arterial pressure
	max.	maximum, maxillary
	MBC	maximum breathing capacity
	mcg.	microgram
	MCH	mean corpuscular hemoglobin
	MCHC	mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
	MCL	midclavicular line
	MCP	metacarpophalangeal joint
	MCV	mean corpuscular volume
	MD	muscular dystrophy
	MDI	metered dose inhaler
	Mdnt.	midnight
	ME	middle ear, medical examiner
	MEC	medical emergency clinic
	Med.	medicine
	MEq./L	milliequivalents per liter
	Mets.	metastasis
	mg.	milligram
	Mg.	magnesium
	MG	myasthenia gravis
	mg/dl	milligrams per deciliter
	mg.%	milligrams per 100 cc
	m.g.r.	murmurs, gallops, or rubs
	MH	marital history
	Ml	myocardial infarction, mitral insufficiency
	micro	microcytic, microscopic
	MICU	medical intensive care unit
	min	minute
	Mitr.I	mitral insufficiency
	ml.	milliliter
	MLF	medial longitudinal fasciculus
	mm	millimeter
	mm.	muscles
	MM	mucous membrane
	MMPI	Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
	Mn.	manganese, midnight
	mod	moderate
	MOM	milk of magnesia
	mono.	monocyte
	MP	metacarpophalangea, metacarpophalangeal
	MPA	malpractice attorney
	MR	medial rectus, mental retardation, mitral regurgitation
	MRI	magnetic resonance imaging
	MRM	modified radical mastectomy
	ms	mitral stenosis
	Ms	murmurs
	MS	mitral stenosis, multiple sclerosis, morphine sulfate
	MSL	midsternal line
	mss	massage
	MT	metacarpophalangeal (joint)
	M.T.	muscles and tendons
	MVA	motor vehicle accident
	MVP	mitral valve prolapse
	MVR	mitral valve replacement
	MW	maximum voluntary ventilation
	N	back to top
	n.	nerve
	N2	nitrogen
	N2O	nitrous oxide (anesthetic)
	Na	sodium
	NaCl	sodium chloride
	NAD	no apparent distress
	nb	note well
	NB	newborn
	NBM	nothing by mouth
	NBS	normal bowel sounds, normal breath sounds
	NED	no evidence of disease
	neg.	negative
	NER	no evidence of recurrence
	NERD	no evidence of recurrent disease
	Neur.	Neurology
	NG	nasogastric tube
	NI	no insurance
	NIC	neonatal intensive care
	NICU	neonatal intensive care unit
	NIDDM	noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus
	NKA	no known allergies
	NM	neuromuscular
	NMR	nuclear magnetic resonance
	noct.	nocturnal
	NOS	not otherwise specified
	NP	neuropsychiatric
	N.P.	Neuropsychiatry
	NPH	NPH insulin (Neutral Protamine Zinc)
	NPN	nonprotein nitrogen
	NPO	nothing by mouth
	Ns.	nerves
	N.S.	nervous system
	NSA	no significant abnormality
	NSAID	nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drug
	NSD	normal spontaneous delivery
	NSR	normal sinus rhythm
	NST	non-stress test
	N&V	nausea and vomiting
	NS	Neurosurgery
	NSVD	normal spontaneous vaginal delivery
	NTG	nitroglycerine
	NTP	normal temperature and pressure
	nullip	never gave birth
	NVD	nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
	N&W	normal and well
	NWB	non-weight bearing
	NYD	not yet diagnosed
	O	back to top
	o	none, without
	O	oral
	O2	oxygen
	O2 cap.	oxygen capacity
	O2 sat.	oxygen saturation
	OA	osteoarthritis
	OB, OBG	Obstetrics
	OB/GYN	Obstetrics and Gynecology
	Obs	observation
	OBS	organic brain syndrome
	OCC.	occipital, occasional
	OD	right eye
	O/E	on examination
	OH	occupational history
	17 OH	17 hydroxy steroid
	OHD	organic heart disease
	oint.	ointment
	O.M.	otitis media
	OMS	organic mental syndrome
	OOB	out of bed
	Op.	operation
	OPC	outpatient clinic
	OPD	outpatient department
	Ophth.	Ophthalmology
	OR	operating room, open reduction
	OR-IF	open reduction with internal fixation
	ORT	operating room technician
	Ortho.	Orthopaedic Surgery
	os	opening, mouth, bone
	OS	left eye
	ot.	ear
	Oto	Otolaryngology
	OTC	over-the-counter (pharmaceuticals)
	O.T.	occupational therapy, old tuberculin
	OU	both eyes
	OV	office visit
	oz.	ounce
	P	back to top
	P	after, phosphorus pulse
	P2	pulmonic second heart sound
	PA	physician’s assistant
	P-A	posteroanterior
	p & a	percussion and auscultation
	PAC	premature atrial, auricular contraction
	PaCO2	arterial carbon dioxide tension pressure
	PACU	post anesthesia care unit
	PAF	paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
	palp.	palpate, palpated, palpable
	PaO2	alveolar oxygen pressure
	Pap	Papanicolaou test (pap smear)
	Para	prior births, paraplegic
	PARU	post anesthesia recovery unit
	PAS	pulmonary artery systolic pressure
	PAT	pregnancy at term, paroxysm atrial tachycardia
	Path.	Pathology
	PA view	posterioranterior view on x-ray
	Pb	lead
	PB	peripheral blood
	PBI	protein bound iodine
	p/c., p.c.	after meals
	PCL	posterior cruciate ligament
	PCO2	carbon dioxide concentration
	PCV	packed cell volume (of blood)
	PD	pupillary distance, peritoneal dialysis
	PDA	patent ductus arteriosus
	pdr.	powder
	PDR	Physician’s Desk Reference
	PDN	private duty nurse
	PE	physical examination, pulmonary embolism
	Ped.	Pediatrics
	PEEP	positive end expiratory pressure
	PEG	pneumoencephalogram
	PEN	Penicillin
	PERRLA	pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation (normal)
	PET	positron emission tomography
	PF	push fluids
	PFC	persistent fetal circulation
	PFT	pulmonary function test
	pH	hydrogen ion concentration
	PH	past history
	pharm	pharmacy
	PHYS.	physical, physiology
	PI	present illness, pulmonary insufficiency
	PICA	posterior inferior coronary artery
	PICU	pulmonary intensive care unit
	PID	pelvic inflammatory disease
	PIP	proximal interphalangeal
	Pit.	Pitocin
	PKU	phenylkentonuria
	Plac.	placenta
	plts.	platelets
	PM	petit mal
	P.M.	afternoon, post-mortem
	PMH	past medical history
	PMN	polymorphonuclear (leukocytes)
	PM&R	Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
	PN	poorly nourished, practical nurse
	P&N	Psychiatry and Neurology
	PNC	prenatal clinic, premature nodal contraction
	PND	paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, post nasal drip
	pneu.	pneumo, pneumonia
	PNI	peripheral nerve injury
	PNX	pneumothorax
	p.o.	by mouth
	PO2	oxygen pressure (or tension)
	POC	product of conception
	p.o.d.	postoperative day
	polys	polymorphonuclear leukocytes
	POMR	problem oriented medical record
	poplit.	popliteal
	pos.	positive
	post.	posterior
	POSTOP.	postoperative
	pot. or potass.	potassium
	pp	post partum, post prandial
	PPBS	post prandial blood sugar
	PPD	purified protein derivative
	PPF	protein plasma fractional
	PPH	post partum hemorrhage
	ppm	parts per million
	PPPG	post prandial plasma glucose
	p.r.	per rectum
	PR	Proctology
	PRBC	packed #00BFFF blood cells
	PRE	progressive resistive exercise
	prem	premature
	pre-op	preoperative
	prep.	prepare for
	primip.	first pregnancy
	p.r.m.	according to circumstances
	p.r.n., PRN	as often as necessary
	prod.	productive
	Prog.	prognosis
	PROM	passive range of motion, premature rupture of membranes
	pron.	pronator, pronation
	pros.	prostate, prostatic
	prosth.	prosthesis
	prot.	protein, Protestant
	pro.time	prothrombin time
	PS	pulmonary stenosis, psychotic, Plastic Surgery
	PSH	past surgical history
	psi	pounds per square inch
	PSMA	progressive spinal muscular atrophy
	Psych.	Psychiatry
	pt., Pt.	patient
	PT	physical therapy
	P.T.	physical therapy, posterior tibial artery pulse
	PTA	prior to admission, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
	PTB	patellar tendon bearing
	PTCA	percutaneous transvenous coronary angioplasty (balloon angioplasty)
	PU	pregnancy urine
	PUD	peptic ulcer disease
	PUPPP	pruritic urticarial papules & plaques of pregnancy
	PV	plasma volume, peripheral vascular
	PVC	premature ventricular contraction
	PVD	peripheral vascular disease
	PVR	pulmonary vascular resistance
	PVT	previous trouble
	PWB%	partial weight bearing with percent
	Px, PX	physical examination
	Q	back to top
	q	every
	q.d.	every day
	q.h.	every hour
	q2H	every two hours
	q4H	every four hours
	q.i.d.	four times a day
	q.i.w.	four times a week
	q.l.	as much as desired
	qn, q.n.	every night
	q.n.s., QNS	quantity not sufficient
	q.o.d.	every other day
	q.o.n.	every other night
	q.p.	as much as you please
	q.q., Q.Q.	each, every
	q.q.h.	every four hours
	q.s.	quantity, sufficient
	qt.	quart
	qts.	drops
	quad.	quadriplegic
	quant.	quantitative or quantity
	q.v.	as much as you wish
	q.w.	every week
	R	back to top
	r., R	right, rectal, roentgen, x-ray
	R.	rub, rectal temperature
	Ra	radium
	RA	rheumatoid arthritis, right atrium
	rad.	radial
	RAI	radioactive iodine
	r.a.m.	rapid alternating movements
	R.A.S.	right arm sitting
	RAtx	radiation therapy
	RBBB	right bundle branch block
	rbc/RBC	#00BFFF blood cell, #00BFFF blood count
	RCA	right coronary artery
	RCS	reticulum cell sarcoma
	RCU	respiratory care unit
	RD	respiratory distress, reaction to degeneration
	RDS	respiratory distress syndrome
	RE	reconditioning exercise
	rect.	rectum, rectal (ly), rectus muscle
	reg.	regular
	rehab.	rehabilitation
	resp.	respiratory, respirations
	RF	rheumatic fever
	RFA	right frontoanterior
	RFP	right frontoposterior
	RFT	right frontotransverse
	Rh, Rh.	rhesus blood factor
	RH	right hyperphoria
	RHD	rheumatic heart disease
	RHF	right heart failure
	RHT	right hypertrophia
	RIH	right inguinal hernia
	RLA	Rancho Los Amigo Scale
	R to L&A	react to light and accommodation
	RLE	right lower extremity
	RLF	retrolental fibroplasia
	RLL	right lower lobe
	RLQ	right lower quadrant
	RMA	right mentoanterior
	RML	right mediolateral,
		right middle lobe
	RMP	right mentoposterior
	RMSF	Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
	RMT	right mentotransverse
	RNA	ribonucleic acid
	RO, R/O	rule out
	ROA	right occipital anterior
	ROM	range of motion, rupture of membranes, right otitis media
	ROP	right occipital posterior
	ROS	review of systems
	ROT	right occipital transverse
	RP	retrograde pyelogram
	RQ	respiratory quotient
	RR	recovery room
	RRE, RR&E	round, regular, and equal
	RSO	right salpingo-oophorectomy
	RSA	right sacrum anterior
	RSD	reflex sympathetic dystrophy
	RSP	right sacrum posterior
	RSR	regular sinus rhythm
	RST	right sacrum transverse
	Rt.	right
	RT	radiation therapy, respiratory therapy
	RTC	return to clinic
	RUC	regular uterine contraction
	RUE	right upper extremity
	RUL	right upper lobe
	RUQ	right upper quadrant
	RV	residual volume
	RVH	right ventricular hypertrophy
	Rx	therapy, prescription
	S	back to top
	s	without
	S	sensation, sensitive, serum
	Sa.	Saline
	S&A	sugar and acetone
	SAH	systemic arterial hypertension
	SaO2	arterial oxygen saturation
	SB	stillborn
	SBE	subacute bacterial endocarditis
	SBFT	small bowel follow through (x-ray)
	SBO	small bowel obstruction
	s.c.	subcutaneous(ly)
	SC	sickle cell
	SCC	sickle cell crisis
	SCD	sudden cardiac death
	schiz	schizophrenia
	SCU	special care unit
	sec	second
	sed. rate	erythrocyte sedimentation rate
	sem. ves	seminal vesicles
	Sens.	sensory, sensation
	sep.	separated
	Sept. AB	septic abortion
	Serol.	serology, serological test
	SGA	small for gestational age
	s.gl.	without correction (without glasses)
	SGOT,SGO-T	serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase
	SH	social history, serum hepatitis
	SI	sacroiliac joint, stroke index
	sib.	sibling
	SICU	surgical intensive care unit
	SIDS	sudden infant death syndrome
	skel.	skeletal
	Sl.	slightly
	SL	under the tongue
	SLE	systemic lupus erythematosus
	SLR	straight leg raising
	sm	small
	SMA-14	routine admission chemistry
	SNS	sympathetic nervous system
	SO	superior oblique
	SO4	sulfate
	S.O.A.P.	subjective, objective assessment plan
	SOB	shortness of breath
	sod.	sodium
	Sol.	solution
	sono.	sonogram
	S.O.S.	repeat once if urgent
	sp.	spine, spinal
	S/P	status post (previous condition)
	sp.cd.	spinal cord
	spec.	specimen
	sp.fl.	spinal fluid
	spg.	sponge
	sp.gr	specific gravity
	sp&H	speech and hearing
	spin.	spine, spinal
	spont.	spontaneous
	SR	system review, superior rectus muscle, sedimentation rate, stimulus response
	SROM	spontaneous rupture of membranes
	SS	social service
	SSE	soap suds enema
	st	stage (of disease)
	st.	stomach
	Staph, Staph.	staphylococcus
	stat.,STAT	immediately
	STD	sexually transmitted disease
	stom, st.	stomach
	strep.	streptococcus
	S.T.S.	serological test for syphilis
	subcut.	subcutaneous
	subling.	sublingual
	sulf.	sulfate
	sup.	superior
	supin.	supination
	supp	suppository
	surg.	surgery, surgical
	SVC	superior vena cava
	SVD	spontaneous vaginaldelivery
	SVR	systemic vascular resistance
	SVT	supra ventricular tachycardia
	SWD	short wave diathermy
	Sx	symptoms
	sys.	system
	syst.	systolic
	T	back to top
	T3	triodothyronine
	T4	total serum thyroxine
	TA	tendon Achilles
	T&A	tonsils and adenoids, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
	T&C	type and crossmatch
	tab.	tablet
	TAB	therapeutic abortion
	TAH	total abdominal hysterectomy
	T.A.T.	tetanus antitoxin
	TB	tuberculosis
	TBI	total body irradiation
	TBLC	term birth living child
	tbsp.	tablespoon
	TCDB	turn, cough, deep breathe
	TEE	transesophageal echocardiography
	temp	temperature
	TENS	transient electric nerve stimulation
	TESD	total end systolic diameter
	T.F.	tuning fork
	T of F	tetralogy of Fallot
	TGA	transposition great vessels
	THERAP.	therapy,therapeutic
	thor.	thorax, thoracic
	THR	total hip replacement
	TI	tricuspid insufficiency
	TIA	transient ischemic shock, transient ischemic attack
	t.i.d.	three times a day
	TIP	terminal interphalangeal (joint)
	TIUP	term intrauterine pregnancy
	t.i.w.	three times per week
	TJ	triceps reflex
	TKR	total knee replacement
	TLC	tender loving care, total lung capacity
	T.M.	tympanum membrani (ear drum)
	TMJ	temporomandibular joint
	TNI	total nodal irradiation
	TNM	tumor, nodes, and metastases
	TO	telephone order
	TOA	tubo-ovarian abscess
	to AA	to affected areas
	T, OD	tension, right eye
	TORCH (titer)	toxoplamosis others (hepatitis, beta strep, flu, mumps, etc.) rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes virus II
	TP	term pregnancy
	TPA	thrombo proteolytic activity
	TPN	total parenteral nutrition
	TPR	temperature, pulse, respiration
	tr	trace
	trach	tracheostomy
	TS	tricuspid stenosis
	TSH	thyroid stimulating hormone
	tsp.	teaspoon
	TSS	toxic shock syndrome
	T,T.	temperature, thoracic
	TTI	total thromboplastin index
	TTP	thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura
	T-Tube	cholangiogram
	TUR	transurethral resection
	TURB	transurethral resection of the bladder
	TURP	transurethral resection of the prostate
	TV	tidal volume
	TVH	total vaginal hysterectomy
	TVR	tricuspid valve replacement
	Tx	treatment, traction
	U	back to top
	U.	unit
	U/A	urinalysis
	UC	uterine contractions
	UCD	usual childhood diseases
	UCG	urinary chorionic gonadotropin
	UCHD	usual childhood diseases
	UG	upward gaze
	UGI	upper gastrointestinal series (x-rays), upper gastrointestinal
	UL	upper lid
	uln	ulnar
	ULQ	upper left quadrant
	ung.	ointment
	unilat.	unilateral
	u/o	under observation for, urine output
	Ur.	urine
	URD	upper respiratory disease
	URI	upper respiratory infection
	Urol.	Urology
	URQ	upper right quadrant
	u/s, US	ultrasound
	USI	urinary stress incontinence
	USN	ultrasonic nebulizer
	USP.	United States Pharmacy
	USPHA	United States Public Health Administration
	ut.	uterus, uterine
	UTI	urinary tract infection
	UVL	ultraviolet light
	V	back to top
	V	vein
	VA	visual acuity
	vag	vagina, vaginal
	VC, (vit.cap)	vital capacity
	VCS	vasoconstrictor substance
	VCU	voiding cystourethrogram
	Vd	void
	VD	venereal disease
	VDRL	blood test for syphilis
	vent.	ventilator
	vert.	vertical
	VF	visual fields, ventricular fibrillation
	VG	vein graft
	VHD	valvular heart disease
	VI	volume index
	V.I.	vaginal irrigation
	Via	by way of
	VIPS	voluntary interruption of pregnancy and sterilization service
	vit.	vitamin
	VLDL	very low density lipoproteins
	VM	vestibular membrane
	VN	visiting nurse
	VO	verbal order
	VOD	vision right eye
	vol	volume
	VOS	vision left eye
	VP	venous pressure
	VPC	ventricular premature contraction
	VS, V.S.	vital signs
	VSA	vital signs absent
	VSD	ventricular septal defect
	VSS	vital signs stable
	VT, V Tach	ventricular tachycardia
	V & T	volume and tension (pulse)
	VTX	vertex
	Vx.	vertex presentation
	W	back to top
	W	widowed, white
	W/A	while awake
	Wass.	Wasserman
	WB	whole blood
	wbc, WBC	white blood cells, white blood count
	W/C, wh.ch.	wheelchair
	WBT	weight bearing to tolerance
	WDWN	well developed, well nourished
	WE	wide excision
	WF	white female
	wk	week
	WM	white male
	w/n	within
	WN	well nourished
	WNL	within normal limits
	WP	whirlpool
	wt.	weight
	w/u	workup
	X	back to top
	x	times
	X	exophoria distance
	XT	exotrophia distance
	Y	back to top
	y.o.	years old
	yrs.	years