Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology

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APPENDIX B

Abbreviations

The use of abbreviations for medical and scientific terms is timesaving and often standard practice. Some of the

most frequently used abbreviations have been listed here. Notice that some have more than one interpretation.

It is important to know the abbreviations approved by your institution, use only those, and nevermake up your

own abbreviations. If there is any chance of confusion, write out the words.

ABC airway, breathing, circulation

ABG arterial blood gas

ABX antibiotics

ACh acetylcholine

ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone

AD Alzheimer’s disease

ADH antidiuretic hormone

AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ANS autonomic nervous system

ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome

ARF acute renal failure (acute respiratory

failure)

ATP adenosine triphosphate

AV atrioventricular

BAL blood alcohol level

BBB blood-brain barrier

BMR basal metabolic rate

BP blood pressure

BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy

(hyperplasia)

BPM beats per minute

BS blood sugar (bowel sounds, breath sounds)

BUN blood urea nitrogen

CA cancer

CAD coronary artery disease

CAPD continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

CBC complete blood count

CC creatinine clearance (critical condition,

chief complaint)

CCCC closed-chest cardiac compression

CF cystic fibrosis (cardiac failure)

CHD coronary heart disease (congenital heart

disease)

CHF congestive heart failure

CI cardiac insufficiency (cerebral infarction)

CNS central nervous system

CO cardiac output; carbon monoxide

COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CP cerebral palsy

CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CRF chronic renal failure

C-section cesarean section

CSF cerebrospinal fluid

CT (CAT) computed (axial) tomography

CVA cerebrovascular accident

CVP central venous pressure

CVS chorionic villus sampling

D & C dilation and curettage

DM diabetes mellitus (diastolic murmur)

DMD Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy

DNA deoxyribonucleic acid

DNR do not resuscitate

DOA date of admission (dead on arrival)

DRG diagnosis-related group

Dx diagnosis

EBV Epstein-Barr virus

ECF extracellular fluid (extended care facility)

ECG (EKG) electrocardiogram

EDV end-diastolic volume

EEG electroencephalogram

EFM electronic fetal monitoring

EP ectopic pregnancy

ER endoplasmic reticulum

ERT estrogen replacement therapy

ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate

ESRD end-stage renal disease

ESV end-systolic volume

FAS fetal alcohol syndrome

FBG fasting blood glucose

FOBT fecal occult blood testing

FSH follicle-stimulating hormone

FUO fever of unknown origin

Fx fracture

GB gallbladder

GFR glomerular filtration rate

GH growth hormone

GI gastrointestinal

HAV hepatitis A virus

Hb hemoglobin

HBV hepatitis B virus

HCG human chorionic gonadotropin

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