The oxygen and carbon dioxide content of arterial blood, measured by v

ABG Arterial Blood Gas arious methods to assess the adequacy of

Androgen- Binding Protein
ABP
Arterial Blood Pressure
ABR Auditory Brainstem Response test
ACE Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme
ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ACTH Adrenocorticotropic hormone
ADH antidiuretic hormone
ADL Activities of daily living
ventilation and oxygenation and the acid-base status of the body.
A protein secreted by testicular Sertoli cells along with inhibin and
müllerian inhibiting substance. Androgen binding protein probably
maintains a high concentration of androgen in the seminiferous tubules.
The pressure of the blood in the arterial system, which depends on the
heart's pumping pressure, the resistance of the
arterial walls, elasticity of vessels, the blood volume, and its viscosity.
Special hearing test that tracks the nerve signals arising in the inner ear a
s they
travel along the auditory nerve to the brain region responsible for heari
ng.
A glycoprotein
(dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase) that catalyzes the conversion of angioten
sin I to angiotensin II by splitting two terminal amino acids.
Emergency medical procedures in which basic life support efforts of car
diopulmonary resuscitation are augmented byestablishment of an IV flui
d line, possible defibrillation, drug administration, control of cardiac arr
hythmias, endotrachealintubation, and use of ventilation equipment.
Also known as corticotropin. is a polypeptide tropic hormone produced
and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland
Also known as vasopressin. is a neurohypophysial hormone found in
most mammals. Its two primary functions are to retain water in the
body and to constrict blood vessels.
Routine activities that people tend do everyday without needing
assistance. There are six basic ADLs: eating, bathing, dressing, toileting,
transferring (walking) and continence.

Is an injury caused by taking a medication.ADRs may occur following a

ADR adverse drug reaction single dose or prolonged administration of a drug or result from the
combination of two or more drugs.
Is inflammation of the tiny filters in your kidneys (glomeruli). Glomeruli
AGN Acute Glomerulonephritis remove excess fluid, electrolytes and waste from your bloodstream and
pass them into your urine.
AIDS is a syndrome caused by the HIV virus.4 It is when a person’s
immune system is too weak to fight off many infections, and develops
AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome when the HIV infection is very advanced. This is the last stage of HIV
infection where the body can no longer defend itself and may develop
various diseases, infections and if left untreated, death.
Adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD, is a deadly genetic disease that affects 1
in 18 000 people. It most severely affects boys and men. This brain
ALD Adrenoleukodystrophy disorder destroys myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds the
brain's neurons -- the nerve cells that allow us to think and to control
our muscles. It knows no racial, ethnic or geographic barriers.
An alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test measures the amount of the enzyme
ALP in the blood. ALP is made mostly in the liver and in bone with some
ALP Alkaline phosphatase
made in the intestines and kidneys . It also is made by the placenta of a
pregnant woman
An alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test measures the amount of this
enzyme in the blood. ALT is found mainly in the liver, but also in smaller
ALT Alanine aminotransferase
amounts in the kidneys, heart, muscles, and pancreas. ALT was formerly
called serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT).
Adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer in which the
AML Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (a type of white blood cell),
red blood cells, or platelets
Autoantibodies (unusual antibodies) that bind to (direct against)the
contents/structures of the cell nucleus and is found in patients whose
immune system is predisposed to cause inflammation against their own
ANA Antinuclear Antibodies
body tissues.
 Use: Analgesic, Antipyretic
Acetyl-para-aminophenol/ Acetaminophen/ Indication: Relief of fever, minor aches and pains
APAP Pharmacologic Category: Analgesics (Non-opioid) and Antipyretic
Paracetamol

The time needed for plasma to form a fibrin clot after the addition of
calcium and a phospholipid reagent; used to evaluate the intrinsic
APTT Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time clotting system.

A life-threatening medical condition characterized by widespread

inflammation in the lungs.
Occurs when fluid builds up in the tiny, elastic air sacs (alveoli) in your
ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
lungs. More fluid in your lungs means less oxygen can reach your
bloodstream. This deprives your organs of the oxygen they need to
function.
The abrupt loss of kidney function, resulting in the retention of urea and
ARF Acute Renal Failure other nitrogenous waste products and in the dysregulation of
extracellular volume and electrolytes.
congenital heart defect in which blood flows between the atria (upper
ASD Arterial Septic Defect chambers) of the heart
an enzyme that is normally present in liver and heart cells; aka serum
ASAT Aspartate Aminotransferase
glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
medical condition involving the death of tubular epithelial cells that form
ATN Acute Tubular Necrosis
the renal tubules of the kidneys
BCG Bacillus Calmette-Guerin a vaccine that provides immunity or protection against tuberculosis
BI Brain Injury injury that causes the destruction or deterioration of brain cells
defined as the rate at which your body uses energy when you are resting
in order to keep vital functions going such as breathing.

basal metabolic rate

BMR The rate at which energy is used by an organism at complete rest,
measured in humans by the heat given off per unit time, and expressed
as the calories released per kilogram of body weight or per square meter
of body surface per hour.

The unit of measure for the frequency of heart depolarizations orcontrac

BPM beats per minute
tions each minute–or pulse rate
A tissue sample removed from the body for microscopic examination, us
ually to establish a diagnosis. The tissue can beobtained surgically or by
Bx biopsy aspiration. The procedure can be guided by computed tomography, ultra
sonography, magneticresonance imaging, or radiography, or it can be pe
rformed without imaging
the area of the external surface of the body, expressed in square meters
BSA Body Surface Area (m2); used to calculate metabolic, electrolyte, nutritional requirements,
drug dosage, and expected pulmonary function measurements.
measures the amount of nitrogen in your blood that comes from the
waste product urea. Urea is made when protein is broken down in your
body. Urea is made in the liver and passed out of your body in the urine.
BUN Blood Urea Nitrogen A BUN test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. If
your kidneys are not able to remove urea from the blood normally, your
BUN level rises.

-surgery creates new routes around narrowed and blocked arteries,

CABG Coronary artery bypass graft allowing sufficient blood flow to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the
heart muscle.
The duct that carries bile from the gallbladder and liver into the
duodenum,
CBD Common bile duct
formed by the junction of the cystic duct, from the gallbladder, and the
common hepatic duct, from the liver.
- Blood test used to evaluate your overall health and detect a wide range
CBC complete blood count
of disorders, including anemia, infection and leukemia.
 - means spending 24 hours a day in bed, getting up only to see your
CBR Complete bed rest
caregiver or to use the bathroom, if that.
- principal reason for a person seeking medical attention ; recorded on a
CC (Px profile) chief complaint
patient's medical history
- common grave genetic disease that affects the exocrine glands and is
CF Cystic fibrosis characterized by the production of abnormal secretions, leading to
mucus buildup that impairs the pancreas and, secondarily, the intestine.
- immune system cells called phagocytes are unable to kill some types of
CGD chronic granulomatous disease bacteria and fungi. This disorder leads to long-term(chronic) and
repeated (recurrent) infections.
- determined by the glomerular filtration rate. Glomerular filtration is
the process by which the kidneys filter the blood, removing excess
CKD Chronic kidney disease
wastes and fluids. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a calculation that
determines how well the blood is filtered by the kidneys.
cancer of a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. These cells are
CLL Chronic lymphocytic leukemia found in the bone marrow and other parts of the body. Bone marrow is
the soft tissue in the center of bones that helps form all blood cells
CMI Consumer medicine information - is standardised written information about prescription
- marked by an abnormal increase in mature and immature granulocytes
(as neutrophils, eosinophils, and myelocytes) especially in bone marrow
CML chronic myelogenous leukemia
and blood, that is characterized by fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite,
spleen and liver enlargement, anemia, thrombocytopenia
- an organic molecule, usually containing phosphorus and some
CoA COENZYME A
vitamins, sometimes separable from the enzyme protein
- a technique that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and
CPB Cardiopulmonary bypass lungs during surgery, maintaining the circulation of blood and the
oxygen content of the body.
CPK Creatine phosphokinase - an enzyme found mainly in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle.
- refers to the five main features: calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon,
esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia.
limited cutaneous form of systemic sclerosis
CREST - A limited form of scleroderma, a disease of connective tissue that
(lcSSc)
involves the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the skin and sometimes
also in other organs of the body.
- Now more commonly classified as chronic kidney disease and is listed
as stages based on the patient's level of glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
CRF Chronic renal failure which is a measure of filtering capacity of the kidneys ; gradual loss of
kidney function, with progressively more severe renal insufficiency until
the stage called chronic irreversible kidney failure
CRI
- a microscopic study of the urine culture performed to determine the
C&S Culture and Sensitivity presence of pathogenic bacteria in patients with suspected urinary tract
infection.
- The sudden death of some brain cells due to lack of oxygen when the
CVA Cerebrovascular accident blood flow to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to
the brain. A CVA is also referred to as a stroke.
- the venous pressure of the right atrium of the heart obtained by
CVP central venous pressure inserting a catheter into the median cubital vein and advancing it to the
right atrium through the superior vena cava
is a life-threatening problem that affects people with diabetes. It occurs
DKA Diabetic ketoacidosis when the body cannot use sugar (glucose) as a fuel source because there
is no insulin or not enough insulin. Fat is used for fuel instead.
is a brief surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated and a special
D & C (Procedure) Dilation and Curettage
instrument is used to scrape the uterine lining.
or no code, is a legal order written either in the hospital or on a legal
form to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or advanced
DNR Do not resuscitate
cardiac life support (ACLS), in respect of the wishes of a patient in case
their heart were to stop or they were to stop breathing.
used to describe a person who is declared dead immediately upon
DOA Dead on Arrival
arrival at a hospital.
also usually refers to this sense. A deep tendon reflex is often associated
with muscle stretching. Tendon reflex tests are used to determine the
DTR deep tendon reflex
integrity of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system, and they can
be used to detect the presence of a neuromuscular disease.
 is abnormal bleeding from the vagina that is due to changes in hormone
levels. It is bleeding that is NOT caused by: Pregnancy or miscarriage.
DUB dysfunctional uterine bleeding
Medical conditions, such as cancer or fibroids. Problems with the uterus
or vagina from infection or other causes.
is injected into a vein through an IV to replace lost fluids and provide
D5W 5% dextrose in water
carbohydrates to the body.
occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep
DVT Deep vein thrombosis veins in your body, usually in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause
leg pain or swelling, but may occur without any symptoms.
the passage leading inward through the tympanic portion of the
temporal bone, from the auricle to the tympanic membrane; it consists
EAC external acoustic meatus
of a bony (inner) portion and a fibrocartilaginous (outer) portion, the
cartilaginous external acoustic meatus.
also called human herpesvirus 4, is one of eight viruses in the herpes
EBV Epstein–Barr virus family, and is one of the most common viruses in humans. It is best
known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis.
is a method of a cataract surgery that involves removing the eye's
ECCE Extracapsular cataract extraction natural lens while leaving in place the back of the capsule that holds the
lens in place.
ECF Extracellular fluid usually denotes all body fluid outside the cells
EDC Estimated date of confinement The due date or estimated calendar date when a baby will be born.
is a test that detects electrical activity in your brain using small, flat
metal discs (electrodes) attached to your scalp. Your brain cells
EEG electroencephalogram communicate via electrical impulses and are active all the time, even
when you're asleep. This activity shows up as wavy lines on an EEG
recording.
Electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) is a method for examining the
condition of a baby in the uterus by noting any unusual changes in its
EFM electronic fetal monitoring heart rate. Electronic fetal monitoring is performed late in pregnancy or
continuously during labor to ensure normal delivery of a healthy baby.
EFM can be utilized either externally or internally in the womb.
is a procedure in which a thin scope with a light and camera at its tip is
EGD Esophagogastroduodenoscopy used to look inside the upper digestive tract -- the esophagus, stomach,
and first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your
heart. An EKG shows the heart's electrical activity as line tracings on
ECG electrocardiogram
paper. The spikes and dips in the tracings are called waves. The heart is a
muscular pump made up of four chambers .
is a common laboratory technique which is used to measure the
ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
concentration of an analyte (usually antibodies or antigens) in solution.
EOM extraocular muscles are the six muscles that control movement of the eye
sedimentation rate or Westergren ESR, is the rate at which red blood
ESR (Lab
erythrocyte sedimentation rate cells sediment in a period of one hour. It is a common hematology test,
assessment)
and is a non-specific measure of inflammation.