| Meaning | |
| ā | (a with a bar over it) before (from Latin ante) before |
| A | assessment |
| a.a. | of each (from Latin ana ana) amino acids:
|
| A1C | glycated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c) |
| Aa. | arteria, see Artery |
| Aag | abdominal aortic aneurysm (pronounced "triple-A") |
| AAD | antibiotic-associated diarrhea |
| AAI | acute arterial insufficiency |
| AAPMC | antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis |
| AAT | activity as tolerated atypical antibody test |
| AAL | anterior axillary line |
| AAOx3 | awake, alert, and oriented, times 3 (i.e., to person, place, and time) |
| AAOx4 | awake, alert, and oriented, times 3 (i.e., to person, place, time, and event) |
| A/B | acid-base ratio |
| ab | abdomen, abdominal abortion |
| Ab | antibody |
| AB | abortion, AB (blood type) |
| ABC | airway, breathing, circulation aspiration biopsy cytology |
| ABCD | airway, breathing, circulation, disability asymmetry, borders, color, diameter (features on considering "Is it a malignant melanoma?") ABCD rating (a staging system for prostate cancer) |
| ABCs ABCDs ABCDEs | airway, breathing, circulation, etc. Refers to priority of needs in emergency situations. Exact spell-out and details after "C" vary by institution, but the "ABCs" theme is recurrent. |
| Abd | abdomen abdominal[abduction] |
| ABD | [abdominal
|-
| ABE || acute bacterial [[endocarditis]]|-| ABG || arterial blood gas|-| ABI || acquired brain injury ankle brachial pressure index|-| ABLA || acute blood loss anemia|-| ABMT || autologous bone marrow transplantation|-| Abn ||abnormal|-| ABO || Landsteiner's blood grouping system|-| ABPA || allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis|-| ABPI || ankle brachial pressure index|-|ABR|Auditory Brainstem Response|-| ABT || antibiotic therapy|-| ABVD || Doxorubicin (adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (first-line treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma)|-| ABX || antibiotics|-| a.c. AC || before a meal (from Latin ante cibum)|-| AC || abdominal circumference assisted controlled ventilation acromioclavicular joint antecubital fossa|-| ACA || acinic cell carcinoma Affordable Care Actanterior cerebral artery|-| ACB || aortocoronary bypass|-| AC&BC|| air conduction and bone conduction, as in Weber test|-| Acc || accommodation (eye)|-| ACCU || acute coronary care unit|-| ACD || anemia of chronic disease|-| ACD || allergic contact dermatitis|-| ACDF || anterior cervical discectomy and fusion|-| Ace || acetone|-| ACE || angiotensin-converting enzyme|-| ACEI || angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor(s)|-| ACh || acetylcholine|-| AChE || acetylcholine esterase|-| ACL || anterior cruciate ligament|-| ACLS || advanced cardiac life support|-| ACS || altered conscious state acute coronary syndrome acute chest syndrome|-| ACM || arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy|-| ACTH || adrenocorticotropic hormone|-| ACP || advance care planning Advanced Clinical Practitioner|-| ACPO || acute colonic pseudo-obstruction|-| ACU || ambulatory care unit|-| ad. || right ear (from Latin auris dexter)|-| AD || Alzheimer's disease acute distress aortic dissection right ear (from Latin auris dexter) as directed|-| ADA || adenosine deaminase American Dental Association American Diabetes Association; e.g., "ADA diet"Americans with Disabilities Act|-| ADC || AIDS dementia complex|-| ADCC || antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity|-| ADD || attention deficit disorder|-|ADE|adverse drug event|-| ADH || antidiuretic hormone|-| ADHD || attention deficit hyperactivity disorder|-| ADHF || acute decompensated heart failure|-| ADHR || autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets|-| ADLs || activities of daily living|-| ad lib|| as desired (from Latin ad libitum)|-| adm || admission|-| Adn || adnexa (for example, adnexa of the uterus)|-| ADP || adenosine diphosphate|-| ad part. dolent || to the painful parts (from Latin ad partes dolentes)|-| ADR || adverse drug reaction|-| ADW || Ain't Doin' Well|-| A/E || Air entry|- | A+E || accident and emergency|-| AEB || as evidenced by (commonly used by nurses)|-| AED || automated external defibrillator antiepileptic drug(s)|-| AEM || ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring|-| AF || atrial fibrillation atrial flutter amniotic fluid|-| AF-AFP ||amniotic fluid alpha fetoprotein|-| AFB || acid-fast bacilli|-| AFI || amniotic fluid index|-| AFib || atrial fibrillation|-| AFL || atrial flutter|-| AFNTR || acute febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction|-| AFO || ankle-foot orthosis|-| AFP || alpha-fetoprotein|-| AFSOF || anterior fontanelle soft, open, flat|-| Ag || antigen|-| AGA || anti-gliadin antibodies appropriate gestational age (see birth weight)|-| AGC || atypical glandular cells|-| AGES criteria || age, grade, extent, size (for tumors)|-| AGN || acute glomerulonephritis|-| AH || auditory hallucinations|-| a.h. || every other hour (from Latin alternis horis)|-| AHD || arteriosclerotic heart disease|-| AHF || antihemophilic factor|-| AHG || antihemophilic globulin|-| AHH || aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase|-| AHI || Apnea-Hypopnea Index[1] |-| AHR || airway hyper-reactivity|-| AHT || antihyaluronic acid test|-| AI || artificial insemination aortic insufficiencyaromatase inhibitors|-| AICD || automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator|-| AID || artificial insemination by donor|-| AIDS || acquired immune deficiency syndrome|-| AIH || artificial insemination by husband|-| AIHA || autoimmune hemolytic anemia|-| AIHD || artificial insemination by pooled husband and donor semen|-| AIPD || acute infectious and parasitical diseases autoimmune progesterone dermatitis acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy|-| AIIRB|| angiotensin II receptor antagonist|-| AIN || allergic interstitial nephritis|-| AIR || anterior interval release acute inpatient rehabilitation|-| AIS || adenocarcinoma in situ androgen insensitivity syndrome|-| AJCC || American Joint Committee on Cancer|-| AjD || adjustment disorder|-| AK || acanthamoeba keratitis|-| aka || also known as|-| AKA || above-knee amputation also known as|-| AKI || acute kidney injury, previously called Acute Renal Failure (ARF)|-| ALA || aminolevulinic acid|-| ALCAPA || anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery|-| ALF || assisted living facility|-| ALG || antilymphocytic globulin|-| ALI || acute limb injury acute lung injury|-| Alk phos || alkaline phosphatase (sometimes abbreviated as ALP)|-| ALL || acute lymphoblastic leukemia allergies|-| ALP || alkaline phosphatase (sometimes abbreviated as Alk phos)|-| ALPS || autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome|-| ALS || amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neurone disease (MND), Lou Gehrig's disease or Charcot disease advanced life support|-| ALT || alanine transaminase|-| altern. d. || every other day (from Latin alterno die)|-| AMA || advanced maternal age (often defined as 35 years or greater) against medical advice antimitochondrial antibody American Medical Association|-| Amb || ambulate|-| AMC || arthrogryposis multiplex congenita|-| AMI || acute mesenteric ischemia acute myocardial infarction|-| AML || acute myeloid leukemia|-| AMO || advanced medical optics|-| AMP || adenosine monophosphate|-| Amp || ampule ampere|-| AMPA receptor || alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor of the brain|-| AMS || acute mountain sickness atypical measles syndrome altered mental status|-| Amt || amount|-| ANA || antinuclear antibody|-| ANCA || antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody|-| AND || allowing natural death|-| ANDI || aberrations of normal development and involution (of breast)|-| ANF || atrial natriuretic factor|-| ANP || atrial natriuretic peptide|-| ANS || autonomic nervous system|-| Ant || anterior|-| Anti- || refers to an antibody to the suffixed antigen|-| ANTR || asymmetrical tonic neck reflex|-| ANUG || acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis|-| A&O or A/O || aware and oriented or alert and oriented|-| A&Ox3 || alert and oriented, times 3 (to person, place, and time)|-| A&Ox4 || alert and oriented, times 4 (to person, place, time, and circumstances) (often used interchangeably with A&Ox3)|-| AODM || adult-onset diabetes mellitus (now called diabetes mellitus type 2)|-| AOM || acute otitis media|-| AOE || acute otitis externa|-| a.p. || before a meal (from Latin ante prandium)|-| AP || action potential alkaline phosphatase angina pectoris anteroposterior apical area postrema|-| A&P || auscultation and percussion anatomy and physiology|-| A/P || anatomy and physiology assessment and plan|-| APACHE II || Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II|-| APAP || paracetamol (aka acetaminophen) (from its chemical name, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol) automatic positive airway pressure|-| APC || atrial premature contraction antigen-presenting cell activated protein C argon plasma coagulation|-| APD || adult polycystic disease automated peritoneal dialysis|-| APKD || adult polycystic kidney disease|-| APECED|| autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy|-| APGAR || appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration (used to assess newborns)|-| APH || antepartum haemorrhage|-| APLS || antiphospholipid syndrome|-| APMPPE || acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy|-| applic. || applicandus (Latin meaning "to be applied")|-| appy || appendectomy|-| APP || as per protocol (e.g., per institutional clinical protocol or per scientific protocol)|-| APR || abdominoperineal resection|-| APS || autoimmune polyendocrine/polyglandular syndrome antiphospholipid syndrome|-| APSAC|| anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex|-| 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 attributable risk|-| ARB || angiotensin II receptor antagonist|-| ARBI || alcohol-related brain injury (such as a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder or alcohol-related dementia)|-| ARC || AIDS-related complex|-| ARD || absolute risk difference alcohol-related dementia|-| ARDS || acute respiratory distress syndrome |-| ARF || acute renal failure|-| ARFID || avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder|-| Arg || arginine|-| ARM || artificial rupture of membranes (also abbreviated as AROM)|-| ARMD || age-related macular degeneration|-| ARMS || alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma|-| AROM || active range of motion artificial rupture of membranes|-| ART || antiretroviral therapy assuming room temperature (that is, the patient has died) assisted reproductive technology|-| ARVC || arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy|-| ARVD || arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia|-| AS || aortic stenosis atherosclerosis ankylosing spondylitis|-| ASA || acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) American Society of Anesthesiologists (physical status class)|-| ASB || asymptomatic bacteriuria|-| ASC || ambulatory surgery center atypical squamous cells|-| ASCA || anti–Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies|-| ASC-H|| atypical squamous cells—cannot exclude HSIL|-| ASCAD|| arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease|-| ASCUS ASC-US|| atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance|-| ASCVD|| arteriosclerotic vascular disease (arteriosclerosis)|-| ASD || atrial septal defect autism spectrum disorder|-| ASGUS|| atypical squamous glandular cells of undetermined significance|-| ASH ASHD || arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary heart disease)|-| ASH || asymmetric septal hypertrophy alcoholic steatohepatitis|-| ASIS || anterior superior iliac spine|-| ASM || anti-seizure medication (anticonvulsant)|-| ASO || antistreptolysin-O|-| ASOT || antistreptolysin-O titre|-| ASPECTS || Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, ASPECT Score|-| Ass || assessment|-| AST || aspartate transaminase|-| ASX || asymptomatic|-| A-T || ataxia-telangiectasia|-| AT || antithrombin angiotensin|-| AT-III|| antithrombin III |-| ATA || antitransglutaminase antibodies|-| ATB || antibiotic|-| ATCC || ATCC (company) (formerly the American Type Culture Collection)|-| ATCP || atypical chest pain |-| ATG || anti-thymocyte globulin |-| ATLS || Advanced trauma life support|-| ATN || acute tubular necrosis|-| ATNR || asymmetrical tonic neck reflex|-| ATP || acute thrombocytopenic purpura adenosine triphosphate antitachycardia pacing|-| Atp || atypical|-| ATRA || all-trans retinoic acid|-| ATS || antitetanus serum, that is, antitetanus immunoglobulins|-| AU || each ear (from Latin auris utraque)|-| AUC || area under the curve (pharmacology)|-| 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)|-| AUS || Artificial urinary sphincter|-| AV || arteriovenous atrioventricular|-| AVF || arteriovenous fistula|-| AVM || arteriovenous malformation|-| AVN || avascular necrosis atrioventricular node|-| AVR || aortic valve replacement|-| AVSD || atrioventricular septal defect|-|AVSS | afebrile, vital signs stable|-| A&W A/W || alive and well associated with admitted with|-| Ax || axillary|-| AXR || abdominal x-ray|-| AYA || adolescents and young adults|-| AZT || azidothymidine|} References |