List of medical abbreviations: A

Sortable table
Abbreviation Meaning
ā(a with a bar over it) before (from Latin ante)
before
Aassessment
apapical
a.a.of each (from Latin ana ana)
amino acids:
  • A or Ala – alanine
  • C or Cys – cysteine
  • D or Asp – aspartic acid
  • E or Glu – glutamic acid
  • F or Phe – phenylalanine
  • H or His – histidine
  • I or Ile – isoleucine
  • K or Lys – lysine
  • L or Leu – leucine
  • M or Met – methionine
  • N or Asn – asparagine
  • O or Pyl – pyrrolysine
  • P or Pro – proline
  • Q or Gln – glutamine
  • R or Arg – arginine
  • S or Ser – serine
  • T or Thr – threonine
  • U or Sec – selenocysteine
  • V or Val – valine
  • W or Trp – tryptophan
  • Y or Tyr – tyrosine
A1Cglycosylated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c)
Aa.arteria, see Artery
AAAabdominal aortic aneurysm (pronounced "triple-A")
AADantibiotic-associated diarrhea
AAIacute arterial insufficiency
AAPMCantibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis
AATactivity as tolerated
atypical antibody test
AALanterior axillary line
AAOx3awake, alert, and oriented, times 3 (i.e., to person, place, and time)
A/Bacid-base ratio
ababdomen, abdominal
abortion
Abantibody
ABabortion, AB Blood Type
ABCairway, breathing, circulation
aspiration biopsy cytology
ABCDairway, 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.
ACAacinic cell carcinoma
Affordable Care Act

Anterior cerebral artery

Abdabdomen
abdominal[abduction]
ABD[abdominal
ABEacute bacterial endocarditis
ABGarterial blood gas
ABIacquired brain injury
ankle brachial pressure index
ABLAAcute Blood Loss Anemia
ABMTautologous bone marrow transplantation
Abnabnormal
ABOLandsteiner's blood grouping system
ABPAallergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis
ABPIankle brachial pressure index
ABVDDoxorubicin (adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (first-line treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma)
ABXantibiotics
a.c.
AC
before a meal (from Latin ante cibum)
ACabdominal circumference
assisted controlled ventilation
acromioclavicular joint
ACBaortocoronary bypass
AC&BCair conduction and bone conduction, as in Weber test
Accaccommodation (eye)
ACCUacute coronary care unit
ACDanemia of chronic disease
ACDallergic contact dermatitis
ACDFanterior cervical discectomy and fusion
Aceacetone
ACEangiotensin-converting enzyme
ACEIangiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor(s)
AChacetylcholine
AChEacetylcholine esterase
ACLanterior cruciate ligament
ACLSadvanced cardiac life support
ACSaltered conscious state
acute coronary syndrome
acute chest syndrome
ACTHadrenocorticotropic hormone
ACPAdvance care planning
ACPOacute colonic pseudo-obstruction
ACUambulatory care unit
ad.right ear (from Latin auris dexter)
ADAlzheimer's disease
acute distress
right ear (from Latin auris dexter)
as directed
ADAadenosine deaminase
American Dental Association
American Diabetes Association; e.g., "ADA diet"
ADCAIDS dementia complex
ADCCantibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity
ADDattention deficit disorder
ADHantidiuretic hormone
ADHDattention deficit hyperactivity disorder
ADHFacute decompensated heart failure
ADHRautosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets
ADLsactivities of daily living
ad libas desired (from Latin ad libitum)
admadmission
Adnadnexae (for example, adnexae of the uterus)
ADPadenosine diphosphate
ad part. dolentto the painful parts (from Latin ad partes dolentes)
ADRadverse drug reaction
A+EAccident and Emergency
AEBas evidenced by (commonly used by nurses)
AEDautomated external defibrillator
antiepileptic drug(s)
AEMambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring
AFatrial fibrillation
atrial flutter
amniotic fluid
AF-AFPamniotic fluid alpha fetoprotein
AFBacid-fast bacilli
AFIamniotic fluid index
AFibatrial fibrillation
AFLatrial flutter
AFNTRacute febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction
AFOankle-foot orthosis
AFPalpha-fetoprotein
AFSOFanterior fontanelle soft, open, flat
Agantigen
AGAanti-gliadin antibodies
appropriate gestational age (see birth weight)
AGCatypical glandular cells
AGES criteriaage, grade, extent, size (for tumors)
AGNacute glomerulonephritis
AHauditory hallucinations
a.h.every other hour (from Latin alternis horis)
AHDarteriosclerotic heart disease
AHFantihemophilic factor
AHGantihemophilic globulin
AHHaryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase
AHRairway hyper-reactivity
AHTantihyaluronic acid test
AIartificial insemination
aortic insufficiency

aromatase inhibitors

AICDautomated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
AIDartificial insemination by donor
AIDSacquired immune deficiency syndrome
AIHartificial insemination by husband
AIHDartificial insemination by pooled husband and donor semen
AIPDacute infectious and parasitical diseases
autoimmune progesterone dermatitis
acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
AIIRBangiotensin II receptor antagonist
AINallergic interstitial nephritis
AIRanterior interval release
acute inpatient rehabilitation
AISadenocarcinoma in situ
androgen insensitivity syndrome
AJCCAmerican Joint Committee on Cancer
AKacanthamoeba keratitis
akaalso known as
AKAabove-knee amputation
also known as
AKIacute kidney injury, previously called Acute Renal Failure (ARF)
ALAaminolevulinic acid
Alcalco123
ALCAPAanomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery
ALFassisted living facility
ALGantilymphocytic globulin
ALIacute limb injury
acute lung injury
Alk phosalkaline phosphatase (sometimes abbreviated as ALP)
ALLacute lymphoblastic leukemia
allergies
ALPalkaline phosphatase (sometimes abbreviated as Alk phos)
ALPSautoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome
ALSamyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neurone disease ('MND), Lou Gehrig's disease or Charcot disease
advanced life support
ALTalanine transaminase
altern. d.every other day (from Latin alterno die)
AMAadvanced maternal age (often defined as 35 years or greater)
against medical advice
antimitochondrial antibody
American Medical Association
Ambambulate
AMCarthrogryposis multiplex congenita
AMIacute mesenteric ischemia
acute myocardial infarction
AMLacute myeloid leukemia
AMOadvanced medical optics
AMPadenosine monophosphate
Ampampule
ampere
AMPA receptoralpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor of the brain
AMSacute mountain sickness
atypical measles syndrome
altered mental status
Amtamount
ANAantinuclear antibody
ANCAantineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
ANDallowing natural death
ANDIaberrations of normal development and involution (of breast)
ANFatrial natriuretic factor
ANPatrial natriuretic peptide
ANSautonomic nervous system
Antanterior
Anti-refers to an antibody to the suffixed antigen
ANTRasymmetrical tonic neck reflex
ANUGacute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
A&O or A/Oaware and oriented or alert and oriented
A&Ox3alert and oriented, times 3 (to person, place, and time)
A&Ox4alert and oriented, times 4 (to person, place, time, and circumstances) (often used interchangeably with A&Ox3)
AODMadult-onset diabetes mellitus (now called diabetes mellitus type 2)
AOMacute otitis media AOEacute otitis externa ]] a.p.before a meal (from Latin ante prandium)
APalkaline phosphatase
anteroposterior
angina pectoris
action potential
angina pectoris
area postrema
A&Pauscultation and percussion
anatomy and physiology
A/Panatomy and physiology
assessment and plan]]
APACHE IIAcute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II
APAPparacetamol (aka acetaminophen) (from its chemical name, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol)
automatic positive airway pressure
APCatrial premature contraction
antigen-presenting cell
activated protein C
argon plasma coagulation
APDadult polycystic disease
automated peritoneal dialysis
APKDadult polycystic kidney disease
APECEDautoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy
APGARappearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration (used to assess newborns)
APHantepartum haemorrhage
APLSantiphospholipid syndrome
APMPPEacute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy
applic.applicandus (Latin meaning "to be applied")
appyappendectomy
APPas per protocol (e.g., per institutional clinical protocol or per scientific protocol)
APRabdominoperineal resection
APSautoimmune polyendocrine/polyglandular syndrome
antiphospholipid syndrome
APSACanisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex
aPTTactivated 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)
ARaortic regurgitation
attributable risk
ARBangiotensin II receptor antagonist
ARBIalcohol-related brain injury (such as a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder or alcohol-related dementia)
ARCAIDS-related complex
ARDabsolute risk difference
alcohol-related dementia
ARDSacute respiratory distress syndrome
ARFacute renal failure
Argarginine
ARMartificial rupture of membranes (also abbreviated as AROM)
ARMDage-related macular degeneration
ARMSalveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
AROMactive range of motion
artificial rupture of membranes
ARTantiretroviral therapy
assuming room temperature (that is, the patient has died)
assisted reproductive technology
ARVCarrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
ARVDarrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
ASaortic stenosis
atherosclerosis
ankylosing spondylitis
ASAacetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
American Society of Anesthesiologists (physical status class)
ASAPas soon as possible
ASBasymptomatic bacteriuria
ASCambulatory surgery center
atypical squamous cells
ASCAanti–Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies
ASC-Hatypical squamous cells—cannot exclude HSIL
ASCADarteriosclerotic coronary artery disease
ASCUS
ASC-US
atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance
ASCVDarteriosclerotic vascular disease (arteriosclerosis)
ASDatrial septal defect
ASGUSatypical squamous glandular cells of undetermined significance
ASH
ASHD
arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary heart disease)
ASHalcoholic steatohepatitis
ASISanterior superior iliac spine
ASOantistreptolysin-O
ASOTantistreptolysin-O titre
ASPECTSAlberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, ASPECT Score
Assassessment
ASTaspartate transaminase
ASXasymptomatic
A-Tataxia-telangiectasia
ATantithrombin
angiotensin
AT-IIIantithrombin III
ATAantitransglutaminase antibodies
ATBantibiotic
ATCCATCC (company) (formerly the American Type Culture Collection)
ATCPAtypical Chest Pain
ATGanti-thymocyte globulin
ATLSAdvanced trauma life support
ATNacute tubular necrosis
ATNRasymmetrical tonic neck reflex
ATPacute thrombocytopenic purpura
adenosine triphosphate
antitachycardia pacing
Atpatypical
ATRAall-trans retinoic acid
ATSantitetanus serum, that is, antitetanus immunoglobulins
AUeach ear (from Latin auris utraque)
AUCarea under the curve (pharmacology)
aur.ear (from Latin auris)
aur. dextro.to right ear (from Latin auris dextrae)
aur. laevto left ear (from Latin auris laevae)
aurist.ear drops (from Latin auristillae)
AVarteriovenous
atrioventricular
AVFarteriovenous fistula
AVMarteriovenous malformation
AVNavascular necrosis
atrioventricular node
AVRaortic valve replacement
AVSS Afebrile, vital signs stable
A&W
A/W
alive and well
associated with
admitted with
Axaxillary
AXRabdominal x-ray
AYAadolescents and young adults
AZTazidothymidine
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