Medical Terminology

before

blood types; may have subscript numbers

asymmetry, border, color, diameter (description of skin cancer lesions)

aortic valve closure (heart sound)

anterior axillary line

abortion

antibody

abdomen, abduction

arterial blood gases

before meals (ante cibum)

acromioclavicular joint

angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE inhibitors are used to treat hypertension)

acetylcholine (neurotransmitter)

anterior cruciate ligament (of knee)

acute coronary syndrome

adrenocorticotropic hormone (secreted by the anterior pituitary gland)

right ear (auris dextra); Alzheimer disease

attention deficit disorder

adduction

antidiuretic hormone; vasopressin (secreted by the posterior pituitary gland)

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

activities of daily living

admission, discharge, transfer

as desired

atrial fibrililation

acid-fast bacillus (bacilli); TB organism

ankle foot orthosis (device for stabilization)

alpha-fetoprotein

silver

antihemophiliac factor (coagulation factor XIII)

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

autoimmune hemolytic anemia

above-knee amputation

albumin (protein)

alkaline phosphatase (elevated in liver disease)

acute lymphocytic leukemia

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig disease)

alanine aminotransferase (elevated in liver and heart disease); formerly SGPT

in the morning or before noon

against medical advice; American Medical Association

ambulate, ambulatory (walking)

age-related macular degeneration

acute myocardial infarction

acute myelocytic (myelogenous) leukemia

antinuclear antibody

absolute neutrophil count

anteroposterior

auscultation and percussion

acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), phenacetin, and caffeine

water (aqua); aqueous

adult respiratory distress syndrome

active range of motion

left ear (auris sinistra); aortic stenosis

acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

atrial septal defect

ateriosclerotic heart disease

aspartate aminotransferase (elevated in liver and heart disease); formerly SGOT

each ear, both ears (auris uterque)

gold

ateriovenous; atrioventricular

ateriovenous malformation

aortic valve replacement

alive and well

barium

bronchioalveolar lavage

banded neutrophils

basophils

bundle branch block

bone conduction

lymphocytes produced in bone marrow

barium enema

twice a day (bis in die)

below-knee amputation

bowel movement

basal metabolic rate

bone marrow transplant

blood pressure

benign prostatic hyperplasia (hypertrophy)

bright red blood per rectum; hematochezia

breast self-examination

bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

bromsulphalein (dye used in liver function test; its retention is indicative of liver damage or disease)

bleeding time

blood urea nitrogen

biopsy

Carbon, calorie

Celsius, centigrade (temperature scale)

first, second cervical vertebra

calcium

cancer; carcinoma; cardiac arrest; chronological age

coronary artery bypass graft (surgery)

coronary artery disease

chronic airway obstruction

continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

capsule

catheter; catheterization

computerized axial tomography

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

complete response; cardiorespiratory

chronic renal failure

cesarean section

culture and sensitivity

cerebrospinal fluid; colony-stimulating factor

cervical spine films

count

clear to auscultation

carpal tunnel syndrome

computed tomography ( x-ray images in a cross-sectional view)

copper

cerebrovascular accident; costoverterbral angle

central venous pressure

cardiovascular system; chorionic villus sampling

compare with; consistent with

chest x-ray

cervix

cystoscopy

discontinue; discharge

dilatation (dilation) and curettage

ductal carcinoma in situ