Browse Medical Abbreviations
A
| a | before (L. ante) |
| A | ampere; anterior; artery; accommodation; age; anode; assessment; Adenine |
| A&D | ascending and descending |
| A&E | accident and emergency |
| A&O | alert and oriented |
| A&Ox3 | awake and oriented to person, place, and time |
| A&Ox4 | awake and oriented to person, place, time, and situation |
| A&P | anatomy and physiology; anterior and posterior; assessment and plan; auscultation and percussion |
| A&W | alive and well |
| A-A | atlanto-axial joint |
| A-a | alveolar-arterial |
| A-G ratio | albumin/globulin ratio |
| A-R | apical radial (pulse) |
| A-T | baby teeth |
| A-VO2 | arteriovenous oxygen |
| a.c. | before meal (ante cibum) |
| a.p. | anterior-posterior; antepartum |
| A/C | assist/control |
| A/G | albumin/globulin ratio |
| A/O | alert and oriented |
| A/V | aortic valve; atrioventricular; arteriovenous |
| A1c | glycosylated hemoglobin |
| A2 | aortic second sound |
| aa | of each (ana ana) |
| AA | aortic aneurism; affected area; acute appendicitis; Alcoholics Anonymous; acetic acid; alopecia areata; amino acid; arteries |
| AA&O | awake, alert and oriented |
| AAA | abdominal aortic aneurysm |
| AAFP | American Academy of Family Physicians |
| AAL | anterior axillary line |
| AAMC | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| AAMI | age-associated memory impairment |
| AAO | awake, alert, and oriented; American Academy of Ophthalmology |
| AAOS | American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons |
| AAR | after action review/report |
| AAT | alpha-1-antitrypsin |
| AAU | acute anterior uveitis |
| Ab | abdominal; antibody; abortion |
| AB | active bilaterally |
| ABA | applied behavior analysis |
| Abb | abbreviated |
| ABC | advanced breast cancer; automated blood count; airway, breathing, circulation; absolute basophil count |
| ABCD2 | age, blood pressure, clinical findings, duration of symptoms, diabetes mellitus (stroke risk score) |
| ABCDE | airway, breathing, circulation, disability, expose, and examine |
| abd | abdomen; abdominal; abduction |
| abdom | abdomen |
| ABFP | American Board of Family Practice |
| ABG | arterial blood gas |
| ABI | acquired brain injury; ankle/brachial index |
| ABLA | acute blood loss anemia |
| ABLS | advanced burn life support |
| abn | abnormal(ity) |
| ABN | Advance Beneficiary Notice (Medicare) |
| ABO | blood groups (A, B, AB, O) |
| ABP | arterial blood pressure; androgen binding protein; acute bacterial prostatitis; ambulatory blood pressure |
| ABPM | ambulatory blood pressure monitoring |
| ABPP | American Board of Professional Psychology |
| ABR | auditory brain response |
| Abs | antibodies |
| abs | absent, absence |
| ABW | actual body weight |
| abx | antibiotics |
| AC | adrenal cortex; anticoagulant; anterior chamber; alternating current; adriamycin and cytoxan; acromioclavicular; abdominal circumference; axiocervical |
| ac | acute; before meal (ante cibum) |
| ac phos | acid phosphatase |
| ACA | Affordable Care Act; anticentromere antibodies; against clinical advice; anterior cerebral artery |
| ACC | adenoid cystic carcinoma; Ambulatory Care Center; aplasia cutis congenita |
| acc | according; accident |
| acc. | accommodation |
| ACD | anticonvulsant drug |
| ACDA | adult children of alcoholics |
| ACE | angiotensin-converting enzyme; all cotton elastic bandage; adverse clinical event |
| ACEI | angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor |
| ACEP | American College of Emergency Physicians |
| ACG | angiocardiography; angle closure glaucoma |
| ACh | acetylcholine |
| AChE | acetylcholinesterase |
| ACHES | abdominal pain, chest pain, headache, eye problems, and severe leg pains |
| AChR | acetylcholine receptor |
| ACJ | acromioclavicular joint |
| aCL | anticardiolipin antibodies |
| ACL | anterior cruciate ligament |
| ACLS | advanced cardiac life support |
| ACO | accountable care organization |
| ACOG | American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists |
| ACP | advanced care plan; acid phosphatase; accountable care partnerships; advanced clinical practice; American College of Physicians |
| ACS | accountable care systems; American Cancer Society; acute coronary syndrome; ambulatory care-sensitive |
| ACSW | Academy of Certified Social Workers |
| ACT | assertive community treatment; anticoagulant therapy; activated clotting time |
| act. | activity |
| ACTH | adrenocorticotropic hormone |
| ACU | ambulatory care unit |
| ACV | assist control ventilation |
| ACVD | acute cardiovascular disease; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease |
| ad | up to; to |
| AD | autosomal dominant; Alzheimer's disease; right ear (auris dextra); advance directive |
| ad lib. | freely, as desired, at liberty (L. ad libitum) |
| ad sat. | to saturation |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act; American Diabetes Association; adenosine deaminase |
| ADC | AIDS dementia complex; apparent diffusion coefficient |
| ADD | attention deficit disorder |
| Add | adduction |
| ADDH | attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity |
| addl | additional |
| ADE | antibody-dependent enhancement; adverse drug event/experience |
| ADEM | acute disseminated encephalomyelitis |
| adeq | adequate |
| ADH | alcohol dehydrogenase; antidiuretic hormone |
| ADHD | attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| ADHF | acute decompensated heart failure |
| ADI | acceptable daily intake |
| ADL | activities of daily living |
| adm | admission; administer(ed) |
| ADME | absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion |
| admin | administration, administer |
| admov | let it be applied (admoveatur) |
| ADP | adenosine diphosphate |
| ADPKD | autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease |
| ADR | adverse drug reaction |
| ADT | anticipated discharge tomorrow; admission, discharge, transfer |
| adv | advise(d) |
| AE | above elbow; arm ergometer; acute exacerbation; adverse event |
| AEA | above elbow amputation |
| AEB | as evidenced by |
| AEC | ambulatory emergency care |
| AED | antiepileptic drug; automated external defibrillator |
| AER | adverse event report; auditory evoked response |
| AF | atrial fibrillation; afebrile; anteflexed |
| AFB | acid fast bacilli |
| Afeb | afebrile |
| Afib | atrial fibrillation |
| AFO | ankle foot orthosis |
| AFP | alpha-fetoprotein |
| AFV | amniotic fluid volume |
| AFX | atypical fibroxanthoma |
| Ag | antigen; Silver (element) |
| AGA | appropriate/average for gestational age |
| AGC | atypical glandular cells |
| AGE | acute gastroenteritis; advanced glycation end |
| AGEP | acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis |
| aggl | agglutination |
| AGN | acute glomerulonephritis |
| AgNO3 | silver nitrate |
| ags | antigens |
| AH | auditory hallucination |
| AHA | autoimmune hemolytic anemia; American Hospital Association; American Heart Association |
| AHC | acute hemorrhagic cystitis |
| AHF | antihemophilic factor |
| AHG | aggregated human IgG; antihuman globulin |
| AI | aortic insufficiency/incompetence; adequate intake; artificial intelligence; artificial insemination |
| AICD | automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator |
| AID | artificial insemination by donor |
| AIDS | acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
| AIH | artificial insemination homologous |
| AIHA | autoimmune hemolytic anemia |
| AIMS | arthritis impact measurement scales; abnormal involuntary movement scale |
| AIVR | accelerated idioventricular rhythm |
| AK | above the knee; actinic keratosis |
| aka | also known as (alias) |
| AKA | above the knee amputation; alcoholic ketoacidosis |
| AKI | acute kidney injury |
| AKN | acne keloidalis nuchae |
| Al | Aluminum (element) |
| ALA | aminolevulinic acid |
| Alb | albumin |
| ALC | acute lethal catatonia |
| alc | alcohol |
| ALD | adrenoleukodystrophy; alcoholic liver disease |
| ALF | Assisted Living Facility |
| ALFT | abnormal liver function test |
| ALG | antilymphocyte globulin |
| ALL | acute lymphocytic/lymphoblastic leukemia |
| ALP | alkaline phosphatase |
| ALS | amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; advanced life support |
| alt | alternate |
| ALT | alanine transaminase; alanine aminotransferase (formerly SGPT); argon laser trabeculoplasty |
| alt. dieb. | every other day (alternis diebus) |
| alt. hor. | alternate hours (alternis horis) |
| alt. noct. | alternate nights (alternis noctes) |
| am | morning, before noon (ante meridiem) |
| AMA | against medical advice; American Medical Association; antimitochondrial antibodies |
| amb | ambulance; ambulation; ambulatory |
| AMD | age-related macular degeneration |
| AME | absorption, metabolism, excretion |
| AMH | anti-Mullerian hormone |
| AMI | acute myocardial infarction |
| AML | acute myeloid leukemia; acute myelogenous (myeloblastic) leukemia |
| AMLS | advanced medical life support |
| AMML | acute myelomonocytic leukemia |
| amnio | amniocentesis; amniotic |
| AMP | adenosine monophosphate; acid mucopolysaccharide |
| amp | ampule; amputation |
| AMPLE | allergies, medications, past medical history, last meal, events preceding |
| AMR | antimicrobial resistance |
| AMS | aseptic meningitis syndrome; altered mental status |
| AMSIT | appearance, mood, sensorium, intelligence, thought process |
| amt | amount |
| AMU | acute medical unit |
| AN | acanthosis nigricans |
| ANA | antinuclear antibody; antinuclear antibodies; antinuclear antigen; American Nurses Association |
| anast. | anastomosis |
| anat | anatomy or anatomic |
| ANC | absolute neutrophil count |
| ANCA | anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody |
| ANCOVA | analysis of covariance |
| AND | allow natural death; axillary node dissection |
| anes | anesthesia |
| anesth | anesthesia |
| ANF | atrial natriuretic factor |
| ang | angiogram |
| ANLL | acute nonlymphocytic leukemia |
| ANP | advanced nurse practitioner; alkaline phosphatase; atrial natriuretic peptide; adult nurse practitioner |
| ANS | autonomic nervous system; acute nephritic syndrome |
| ant. | anterior |
| anti-CCP | anticyclic citrullinated peptide |
| anti-GBM | anti-glomerular basement membrane |
| Anti-HAV | Hepatitis A antibody |
| Anti-HBc | Hepatitis B antibodies to the core antigen |
| Anti-HBe | Hepatitis B antibody (antibody to HBeAg) |
| Anti-HBs | Hepatitis B antibodies to the surface antigen |
| Anti-HCV | Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies |
| AO | acridine orange; aorta |
| Ao. | aorta |
| AOB | alcohol on breath |
| AODM | adult onset diabetes mellitus |
| AOM | acute otitis media |
| AOP | acknowledgment of paternity |
| AOTA | American Occupational Therapy Association |
| AP | apical pulse; anterior-posterior; appendectomy; antepartum; action potential; alkaline phosphatase |
| Ap | apex/apical |
| ap | before meal (ante prandium) |
| AP D | anteroposterior diameter |
| APA | antipernicious anemia (factor); American Psychiatric Association |
| APACHE | Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation |
| APAP | N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (paracetamol, acetaminophen) |
| APC | atrial premature contraction; aspirin/caffeine; antigen-presenting cell; admitted patient care; adenomatous polyposis coli |
| APD | automated peritoneal dialysis; adult polycystic disease |
| APE | acute pulmonary edema; acute psychotic episode; annual physical exam |
| APGAR | appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration |
| API | active pharmaceutical ingredient |
| APL | abductor pollicis longus; IgA phospholipid unit |
| aPL | antiphospholipid antibodies |
| APLS | antiphospholipid syndrome; advanced pediatric life support |
| APMS | alternative provider medical services |
| APN | Advanced Practice Nurse |
| APORF | acute postoperative renal failure |
| appar | apparent |
| APPG | aqueous procaine penicillin-g |
| approx | approximately |
| aPPT | activated partial thromboplastin time |
| appt | appointment |
| APRN | Advanced Practice Registered Nurse |
| APRV | airway pressure release ventilation |
| APS | antiphospholipid syndrome |
| APSGN | acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis |
| APT | anatomical pathology technologist |
| aPTT | activated partial thromboplastin time |
| aq | water (aqua) |
| AR | artificial respiration; autosomal recessive; allergic rhinitis; aortic regurgitation |
| Ar | Argon (element) |
| ARB | angiotensin-ii receptor blocker; angiotensin receptor blocker |
| ARBD | alcohol-related birth defects |
| ARC | American Red Cross; acid-resistant cells; AIDS-related complex |
| ARD | acute respiratory distress; acute respiratory disease |
| ARDD | alcohol-related developmental disability |
| ARDS | acute respiratory distress syndrome |
| ARF | acute renal failure |
| ARG | argininemia |
| ARMD | age-related macular degeneration |
| ARND | alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder |
| ARNP | Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner |
| AROM | active range of motion; artificial rupture of membranes |
| ARRP | anatomic retropubic radical prostatectomy |
| ARRT | American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; American registered respiratory therapist; adult rapid response team |
| ARS | acute radiation syndrome; anti-rabies serum |
| ART | assisted reproductive technology/therapy; active resistance training; accredited record technician; artery; antiretroviral therapy |
| art | arterial; artery |
| ARV | antiretroviral; AIDS-related virus |
| AS | ankylosing spondylitis; arteriosclerosis; left ear (auris sinistra); aortic stenosis |
| As | Arsenic (element) |
| as tol | as tolerated |
| As. | astigmatism |
| ASA | acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin); aminosalicylic acid |
| aSAH | aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage |
| ASAP | as soon as possible |
| ASC | atypical squamous cells |
| ASC-US | atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance |
| asc. | ascending |
| ASCA | anti-saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody |
| ASCP | American Society of Clinical Pathologists |
| ASCT | allogenic stem cell transplant; autologous stem cell transplantation |
| ASCVD | atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease |
| ASD | autism spectrum disorders; atrial septal defect |
| ASF | anterior spinal fusion |
| ASH | asymmetrical septal hypertrophy |
| AsH | hypermetropic astigmatism |
| ASHD | arteriosclerotic heart disease |
| ASHF | acute systolic heart failure |
| ASIS | anterior superior iliac spine |
| AsM | myopic astigmatism |
| ASO | administrative services only; antistreptolysin-o titer |
| ASPD | advanced sleep phase disorder |
| AST | aspartate aminotransferase (formerly SGOT); aspartate transaminase |
| Ast | astigmatism |
| ASU | ambulatory surgery unit |
| Asx | asymptomatic |
| AT | anterior tibial; atrial tachycardia; assistive technology |
| at. wt. | atomic weight |
| ATF | alcohol, tobacco, and firearms |
| ATG | antithymocyte globulin |
| ATL | adult T-cell leukemia |
| ATLS | advanced trauma life support |
| ATN | acute tubular necrosis |
| ATOD | alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs |
| ATP | adenosine triphosphate |
| atr | atrophy |
| AU | each ear (auris uterque), both ears; arbitrary unit; angstron (angstrom) unit |
| Au | Gold (element) |
| AUC | area under the curve |
| aud | auditory |
| AUG | oxytocin challenge test |
| AUL | acute undifferentiated leukemia |
| ausc | auscultation |
| aux | auxiliary |
| AV | aortic value; arteriovenous; atrioventricular; audio visual; aortic valve |
| AV block | atrioventricular block |
| AV valves | atrioventricular valves |
| av. | avoirdupois |
| AVB | atrioventricular block |
| AVD | atrioventricular dissociation; aortic valve disease |
| AVI | automatic volume infusion pump |
| AVM | arteriovenous malformation |
| AVN | avascular necrosis |
| AVP | arginine vasopressin |
| AVPU | alert, verbal, pain response, unresponsive |
| AVR | aortic valve repair; aortic valve replacement |
| AVS | arteriovenous shunt |
| AVSS | afebrile, vital signs stable |
| AWC | adequate and well-controlled |
| AWMI | anterior wall myocardial infarction |
| AWOL | absent without (official) leave |
| ax | axillary |
| AXR | abdominal x-ray |
| AXT | alternating exotropia |
| AZA | azathioprine |
Return to: Medical Abbreviations & Acronyms
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Abbreviations vary by context and institution. Many abbreviations have alternate or newer meanings not reflected in this set. The abbreviations on this page should not be considered complete.