Medical Terminology

Musculoskeletal
Osteo
Bone
Artho
Joint
Chondro
cartilage
Myelo
Bone marrow/spine
Myo
Muscle
Tendo
Tendon
Costo
Rib
integumentary
Derma
Skin
Onycho
nail
Respiratory
Rhino
Naso
Laryngo
Larynx
Trachea
trachea
Broncho
bronchus
Pulmo
Lung
Pneumo
air
Pneo
Breath/ breathing
Digestive
Stoma
Mouth
Lingua/glossa
Tongue
Dento/odonto
Tooth
Cheilo
Lip
Gingivo
gum
Gastro
Stomach
Entero
Intestines
Duodeno
Duodenum
Jejuno
Jejunum
Ileo
Ileum
Colo
Colon
Procto
Rectum/anus
Accessory organs of digestion
Hepato
liver
Cholecyto
Gall bladder
Celio/
Abdomen
abdomino
Laparo
Abdominal wall
Cardiovascular
Cardio
heart
Angio
vessel
Phlebo
vein
Arterio
artery
Thrombo
Clot of blood
Hematopoietic and lymphatic
Cyto eg.
Cell
erythroCYTE
hema
Blood
Lympho
lymph
Spleno
Spleen
Phago eg.
eat
phagocyte
Endocrine
Acro eg.
Extremity
acromegaly
Gluco
sugar

Adeno
gland
Nervous System
Neuro
Nerve
Cerebro
Brain
Psycho
mind
Mania
Madness
Phobia
Fear
Esthesia
Sensation
Genitourinary
Nephro
Kidney
Uretero
ureter
Cysto
bladder
Urethra
Urethra
Orchio
Testes
Uro/uria
urine
Lith
stone
Gynecology
Hystero
Uterus/womb
Oophro
Ovary
Salphigo
tube
Sensory Organs
Oto
ear
Tympano/
Eardrum
myringo
Ophthalmo/
Eye
oculo
Opto
Vision
Blepharo
Eyelid
Kerato
Cornea
Dacryo
Tear
Misc.
Pyo
puss
Lipo
Fat
Febri
Fever
Myco
fungus
Necro
Dead
Emesis
Vomit
Prefixes-location
Intra/
Within
endo/em/e
n
Peri
around
Ec/ ecto
outside
Retro/post
Behind
Sub/hypo
Under
Inter
Between
Prefixes-time
Ante/ pre
Before
post
After
Prefixes-Negation
a/ an
Absence of
Anti
against
Prefixes-Amount and comparison
Uni/ mono
One/single
Bi
two
Tri
three
Quadri
four

Multi/ poly
Many/much
Hemi/ semi half
Hypo
Little/low
Hyper
Above/ high
Tachy
fast
Brady
Slow
Oligo
Little/scanty
Prefixes-colour
leuko
white
Erythro
Red
Cyano
blue
Melano
Dark/ black
Prefixes-Size and position
Micro
Small
Macro/
Large
mega
Antero
Anterior
Latero
Side
Dextro
To the right
Levo
To the Left
Medio
Middle
Prefixes-Misc.
Hydro
Water
Dys
Difficult/ painful
Nox/ noct
night
Mal
bad
Pan
Total/ all
Suffixes- diagnosis
-Cele
Hernia/protrusion/tumour
-emia eg.
blood
leukemia,
hypoglycae
mia
-ectasis/
Dilation/ expansion
ectasia
-Iasis
Condition/formation of/
presence of
-itis
Inflammation
-malacia
Softening
-megaly
enlargement
-sclerosis
Hardening
-oma
Tumour
-osis/ pathy Disease/condition
-ptosis
Downward displacement/
prolapse
-rrhexia
Rupture
-trophy
Growth/nourishment
Suffixes-operative procedures
-ectomy
Removal/ excision
-scopy
Inspection/ examination
-stomy
Surgical creation of opening
-tomy
-incision/cutting into
-desis
Binding/ fixation
-pexy
suspension
-plasty
Plastic Repair
-centesis
Puncture
-rrhaphy
Suture repair

Suffixes- Symptoms
-algia
pain
-genic
Producing/ originating
-lysis
Destruction/breakdown
-rrhagia/
Excessive/ discharge
rrhea eg.
haemorrha
ge/
diarrhea
-penia
Decrease/ deficiency
-spasm
Involuntary contraction
-ic/-ac/ -al/
Pertaining to
-ar
Medical Abbreviations
A
AAA

abdominal aortic aneurysm

ABI

aquired brain injury

ac

before meals; acute

ACAT

Age Care Assessment Team

ADL

aids for daily living

ad lib

ad libitum; as desired; as needed

adm

admission

AF

atrial fibrillation

AKI

acute kidney injury

APMS

acute pain management

ARF

acute renal failure

ATOR

at time of review

ATSP

asked to see patient

B
bd

bis in die; twice daily

BEE

basal energy expenditure

BIBA

brought in by ambulance

BMR

basal metabolic rate

BMTU

bone marrow transplant unit

BNO

bowels not opened

BP

blood pressure

BSL

blood sugar level

C
c

with

cc

with meals

Ca

cancer (carcinoma)

COAD

chronic obstructive airways disease

CCF

congestive cardiac failure

CCU

coronary care unit

CJD

Creutzfeld-Jacob-Disease

CPAP

Continuous positive airway pressure

CNC

clinical nurse consultant

c/o

complaining of

CPP

cerebral perfusion pressure

CRF

chronic renal failure

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CVA

cerebrovascular accident/cardiovascular accident ??

CAVH

continuous arteriovenous haemofiltration

COAD

chronic obstructive airways disease

CVP

central venous pressure

CVVH

continuous venovenous haemofiltration

CXR

chest x-ray

D
d/c

discharge

d/w

discussed with

DVT

deep vein thrombosis

Dx

diagnosis

DXRT

deep x-ray therapy

E
ECG

electrocardiogram

EEG

electroencephalogram

EER

estimated energy requirements

ENT

ear, nose and throat

EPR

estimated protein requirements

ESR

erythrocyte sedimentation rate

ETOH

ethanol

F
FBC

full blood count

FEES

fibreoptic endoscopic examination of swallow

FUO

fever of unknown origin

FIx

for investigation

fracture

G
GA

general anaesthetic

GB

gall bladder

GCS

glasgow coma scale

GI(T)

gastrointestinal (tract)

GOP

general outpatients

GOR

gastro-oesophageal reflux

GP

general practitioner

GTT

glucose tolerance test

GVHD

graft versus host disease

H
Hb

haemoglobin

HBGM

home blood glucose meter

HD

haemodialysis

HI

head injury

HLA

human leukocyte antigens

H&N

head and neck

HPHE

high protein high energy

hr

hours

HT

hypertension

HTN

HWR

healthy weight range

Hx

history

I
ICC

intracostal catheter

ICH

intra cranial haematoma

ICP

intra cranial pressure

ICU

intensive care unit

IDC

indwelling catheter

IHD

ischaemic heart disease

ISQ

in status quo (same as previously)

IV

intravenously

IVH

intraventricular haematoma

Ix

investigation

L
LA

local anaesthetic

lat

lateral

LFT

liver function tests

LIF

left iliac fossa

LLL

left lower lobe

LOC

loss/level of consciousness

LMO

local medical officer

LUL

left upper lobe

LVF

left ventricular failure

M
mane

morning

MAP

mean arterial pressure

MAPU
MBA

motor bike accident

MBS

modified barium swallow

mcg

microgram

ME

myalgia encephalomyelitis

MHx

medical history

Mm

mid meals

MVA

motor vehicle accident

N
NAD

no abnormality detected

NAS

no added salt
no added sugar

NBM

nil by mouth

NFR

not for resuscitation

NGF

naso-gastric feeds

NGT

naso-gastric tube

NJT

naso-jejunal tube

nocte

at night

NOF

neck of femur

NS

nursing staf

O
o

oral

OA

osteoarthritis

O/A

on admission

OCP

oral contraceptive pill

OD

overdose

O/E

on examination

OHG

oral hypoglycaemic agents

O/N

over night

OP

outpatient

OT

occupational therapy, operating theatre

P
pc

after meals

PCR

polymerase chain reaction

PD

peritoneal dialysis

PEG

percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

PEJ

percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy

PIH

pregnancy induced hypertension

PM

post mortem

PMHx

past medical history

POH

past obstetric history

pr

per rectum

PRN

as often as requested; as required

Pt

patient

PUO

pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin

PVD

peripheral vascular disease?

Q
q

every

q4h

every 4 hours

qid

four times daily

QRI

Queensland Radiation Institute

R
RA

rheumatoid arthritis

rbc

red blood cell

RDA

recommended daily allowances

RDI

recommended daily intake

REG

registrar

RIB

rest in bed

RIF

right iliac fossa

REE

resting energy expenditure

RMO

resident medical officer

r/v

review

S
S/B

seen by

SCC

squamous cell carcinoma

SHx

social history

SI

seriously ill

SOA

swelling of ankles

SOB(OE)

shortness of breath (on exertion)

SOOB

sit out of bed

SP

speech pathologist

stat

immediately

T
T

temperature

TBI

total body irradiation

traumatic brain injury

TCI

to come in

tds

three times daily

t/f

transferred

TIA

transient ischaemic attack

TKVO

to keep vein open

TPR

temperature, pulse and respiration

U
U/A

urinalysis

U & Es

Urea & electrolytes

URTI

upper respiratory tract infection

UTI

urinary tract infection

W
wcc

white cell counts