Dictionary of Medical Acronyms & Abbreviations

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[ A ]

A₁ | A₂ | A₃ | A₄ | A₅ | A₆ | A₇ |

A abnormal; abortion; absolute temperature; absorbance; acceptor; accommodation; acetone; acetum; achondroplasia; acid; acidophil, acidophilic; acromion; actin; Actinomyces; activity [radiation]; adenine; adenoma; adenosine; admittance; adrenalin; Adriamycin; adult; age; akinetic; alanine; albino [guinea pig]; albumin; allergologist, allergy; alpha [cell]; alveolar gas; ambulation; ampere; amphetamine; ampicillin; amplitude; anaphylaxis; androsterone; anesthetic; angstrom, Ängström unit; anode; Anopheles; antagonism; anterior; antibody; antrectomy; apical; aqueous; area; argon; artery [Lat. arteria]; atomic weight; atrium; atropine; auricle; auscultation; axial; axilla, axillary; before [Lat. ante]; blood group A; ear [Lat. auris]; mass number; subspinale; total acidity; tumor limited to the bowel [Dukes classification]; tumor limited to the mucosa [Astler-Coller classification]; water [Lat. aqua]; year [Lat. annum]
A [band] the dark-staining zone of a striated muscle
A1 aortic first sound; prostatic tumor less than 5% [Jewett staging system]
A-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 anterior cerebral artery segments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
AI, AII, AIII angiotensin I, II, III
A2 prostatic tumor more than 5% [Jewett staging system]
A₂ aortic second sound
Ä Ängström unit
Ã cumulated activity; antinuclear antibody
a absorptivity; acceleration; accommodation; acidity; activated; ampere; anode; anterior; area; arterial blood; arterial; artery [Lat. arteria]; atto-; autopsy; before [Lat. ante]; thermodynamic activity; total acidity; water [Lat. aqua]
a- atto- [10^-18]
a sample y intercept of straight line
before [Lat. ante]
α see alpha
AA abampere; abdominal aorta; acetabular anteversion; acetic acid; achievement age; active alcoholic; active assistive [range of motion]; active avoidance; acupuncture analgesia; acute appendicitis; adenine arabinoside; adenylic acid; adjuvant arthritis; adrenal androgen; adrenocortical autoantibody; African American; aggregated albumin; [bacterial] aggregative adherence; agranulocytic angina; alcohol abuse; Alcoholics Anonymous; allergic alveolitis; alopecia areata; alveolo-arterial; aminoacetone; amino acid; aminoacyl; amyloid A; anaplastic astrocytoma; anti-arrhythmic agent; anticipatory avoidance; antigen aerosol; aortic amplitude; aortic aneurysm; aortic arch; aplastic anemia; arachidonic acid; arteries; ascending aorta; atlanto-axial; atomic absorption; Australia antigen; autoanalyzer; automobile accident; axonal arborization
2AA 2-aminoanthracene
A&A aid and attendance; awake and aware
A-a alveolar-arterial; alveolar-atrial
aA abampere
aa amino acid; arteries [Lat. arteriae]
AAA abdominal aortic aneurysm/aneurysmectomy; acne-associated arthritis; acquired aplastic anemia; acute anxiety attack; alacrimia-achalasia-addisonianism [syndrome]; American Academy of Addictionology; American Academy of Allergy; American Association of Anatomists; androgenic anabolic agent; aneurysm of ascending aorta; angiography of abdominal aorta; Area Agency on Aging; aromatic amino acid; arrest after arrival
AAAD aromatic amino acid decarboxylase
AA/AD alcohol abuse/alcohol dependence
AAAE amino acid activating enzyme
AAAHC Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
AAAHE American Association for the Advancement of Health Education
AAAI American Academy of Allergy and Immunology; American Association of Artificial Intelligence
AAALAC American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care
AAAM Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
AAAS American Association for the Advancement of Science
AAASPS African-American Antiplatelet Stroke Prevention Study
AAAV avian adeno-associated virus
AAB American Association of Bioanalysts; aminoazobenzene
AABB American Association of Blood Banks; axis-aligned bounding boxes
AABCC alertness (consciousness), airway, breathing, circulation, cervical spine
AABS automobile accident, broadside
AABV Ascogaster argentifrons bracovirus
AAC antibiotic-associated [pseudomembranous] colitis; antimicrobial agent--induced colitis; augmentative and alternative communication
AACA acylaminocephalosporanic acid
6´AAC-2″APH 6´-acetyltransferase-2″-phosphotransferase
AACC American Association for Clinical Chemistry
AACCN American Association of Critical Care Nurses
AACD aging-associated cognitive decline
AACE acute acquired comitant esotropia
AACEM Association of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine
AACG acute angle closure glaucoma
AACHP American Association for Comprehensive Health Planning
AACIA American Association for Clinical Immunology and Allergy
AACN American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
AACOM American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
AACP American Academy of Cerebral Palsy; American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
AACPDM American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
AACS American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
AACSH adrenal androgen corticotropic stimulating hormone
AACT American Academy of Clinical Toxicology
AACVPR American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
AAD acute agitated delirium; acute aortic dissection; alcohol abuse or dependence; alloxazine adenine dinucleotide; alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency; American Academy of Dermatology; antiarrhythmic drug; antibiotic-associated diarrhea; aromatic acid decarboxylase; average absolute deviation
7-AAD 7-amino-actinomycin D
AADC amino acid decarboxylase; L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase
AADE American Association of Dental Editors; American Association of Dental Examiners
AADGP American Academy of Dental Group Practice
AADH alopecia-anosmia-deafness-hypogonadism [syndrome]
(A-a)D_N_₂ alveolo-arterial nitrogen tension difference
AaDNV Aedes aegypti densovirus
AAD_O_₂, (a-A) D_O_₂ arterio-alveolar oxygen tension difference
AADP American Academy of Denture Prosthetics; amyloid A-degrading protease
AADPA American Academy of Dental Practice Administration
AADR American Academy of Dental Radiology
AADS American Academy of Dental Schools
AAE active assistive exercise; acute allergic encephalitis; American Association of Endodontists; annuloaortic ectasia
AAEE American Association of Electromyography and Electrodiagnosis
AAEM American Academy of Emergency Medicine; American Academy of Environmental Medicine; American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine
AAEV Aedes aegypti entomopoxvirus
AA ex active assistive exercise
AAF acetylaminofluorene; aggregative adherence fimbriae; aortic arch flush; ascorbic acid factor
2-AAF N-2-fluorenylacetamide
AAFP American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Family Practice
AAFPRS American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
AAFT amplitude-adjusted Fourier transform
AAG 3-alkaladenine deoxyribonucleic acid glycosylase; allergic angiitis and granulomatosis; alpha-1-acid glycoprotein; alveolar arterial gradient; autoantigen
17AAG 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin
AAGL American Academy of Gynecologic Laparoscopists
AAGP American Academy of General Practice; American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
AAH Academy of Architecture for Health
AAHA American Academy of Hospital Attorneys; American Association of Homes for the Aging
AAHC American Academy of Healthcare Consultants; American Accreditation HealthCare Commission; Association of Academic Health Centers
AAHD American Association of Hospital Dentists
AAHE Association for the Advancement of Health Education
AAHP American Association of Health Plans
AAHPER American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
AAHRPP Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs
AAHS American Association for Hand Surgery
AAHSL Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries
AAHSLD Association of Academic Health Sciences Library Directors
AAI acute alveolar injury; Adolescent Alienation Index; American Association of Immunologists; atrial inhibited [pacemaker]
AAIB alpha-1-aminoisobutyrate
AAID American Academy of Implant Dentures
AAIN American Association of Industrial Nurses
AAK allo-activated killer
AAL ambient air level; anterior axillary line
AALAC American Association for Laboratory Animal Care
AALAS American Association of Laboratory Animal Science
AALib amino acid library
AALL American Association for Labor Legislation
AALNC American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
AAM acute aseptic meningitis; American Academy of Microbiology; amino acid mixture
AAm acrylamide
AAMA American Academy of Medical Administrators; American Association of Medical Assistants
AAMC American Association of Medical Clinics; Association of American Medical Colleges
AAMD American Academy of Medical Directors; American Association of Mental Deficiency
AAME acetylarginine methyl ester
AAMFT American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
AAMI Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
AAMIH American Association for Maternal and Infant Health
AAMMC American Association of Medical Milk Commissioners
AAMP American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics; American Academy of Medical Prevention
AAMR American Academy of Mental Retardation
AAMRL American Association of Medical Record Librarians
AAMRS automated ambulatory medical record system
AAMS acute aseptic meningitis syndrome
AAMSI American Association for Medical Systems and Informatics
AAMT American Association for Medical Transcription
AAMU 5-acetylamino-6-amino-methyluracil
AAN AIDS-associated nephropathy; alpha-amino nitrogen; American Academy of Neurology; American Academy of Nursing; American Academy of Nutrition; American Association of Neuropathologists; amino acid nitrogen; analgesic-associated nephropathy; attending's admission notes
AANA American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
AANE American Association of Nurse Executives
AANM American Association of Nurse-Midwives
AANPI American Association of Nurses Practicing Independently
AAO American Academy of Ophthalmology; American Academy of Optometry; American Academy of Osteopathy; American Academy of Otolaryngology; American Association of Ophthalmologists; American Association of Orthodontists; amino acid oxidase; ascending aorta; awake, alert, and oriented
AAo ascending aorta
A-a O₂ alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient; alveolo-arterial oxygen tension
AAOC antacid of choice
AAofA Ambulance Association of America
AAOHN American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
AAOM American Academy of Oral Medicine
AAOMS American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
AAOO American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology
AAOP American Academy of Oral Pathology
AAOPP American Association of Osteopathic Postgraduate Physicians
AAOS American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; American Association of Osteopathic Specialists
AAP acute abdominal pain; acute appendicitis; air at atmospheric pressure; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Pedodontics; American Academy of Periodontology; American Academy of Psychoanalysts; American Academy of Psychotherapists; American Association of Pathologists; Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis; Association for the Advancement of Psychotherapy; Association of Academic Physiatrists; Association of American Physicians
AAPA American Academy of Physician Assistants; American Association of Pathologist Assistants
AAPB American Association of Pathologists and Bacteriologists
AAPC antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis; average annual percent change
AAPCC adjusted annual per capita cost; adjusted average per capita costs; American Association of Poison Control Centers
AaP_CO_₂, (A-a)P_CO_₂ alveolo-arterial carbon dioxide tension difference
AAPF anti-arteriosclerosis polysaccharide factor
AAPH 2,2´-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride
AAPHD American Association of Public Health Dentists
AAPHP American Association of Public Health Physicians
AAPL American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
AAPM American Association of Physicists in Medicine
AAPMC antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis
AAPM&R American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
AaP_O_₂, (A-a) P_O_₂ alveolo-arterial oxygen tension difference
AAPP American Academy on Physician and Patient
AAPPO American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations
AAPS American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists; American Association of Plastic Surgeons; Arizona Articulation Proficiency Scale; Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
AAPT Adolescent Alcohol Prevention Trial
AAR active avoidance reaction; acute articular rheumatism; antigen-antiglobulin reaction
aar against all risks
AARC American Association for Respiratory Care
AARE automobile accident, rear end
AARNet Australian Academic and Research Network
AAROM active assertive range of motion; active-assisted range of motion
AARP American Association of Retired Persons
AART American Association for Rehabilitation Therapy; American Association for Respiratory Therapy
AAS Aarskog-Scott [syndrome]; acid aspiration syndrome; alcoholic abstinence syndrome; American Academy of Sanitarians; American Analgesia Society; aneurysm of atrial septum; anthrax antiserum; aortic arch syndrome; atomic absorption spectrophotometry
AASD American Academy of Stress Disorders
aa seq amino acid sequence
AASH adrenal androgen stimulating hormone; American Association for the Study of Headache
AASK African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension Pilot Study
AASP acute atrophic spinal paralysis; American Association of Senior Physicians; ascending aorta synchronized pulsation
AASS American Association for Social Security
AAST American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
AAT Aachen Aphasia Test; academic aptitude test; Accolate Asthma Trial; alanine aminotransferase; alkylating agent therapy; alpha-1-antitrypsin; atrial triggered [pacemaker]; auditory apperception test; automatic atrial tachycardia
A1AT α₁-antitrypsin
α₁AT α₁-antitrypsin
AATB American Association of Tissue Banks
AATS American Association for Thoracic Surgery
AAU acute anterior uveitis
AAUT actual amount of use test
AAV adeno-associated virus
AaV Acherontia atropas virus; Allomyces arbuscula virus
AAVMC Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
AAVP American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists
AAW anterior aortic wall
AB abdominal; able body; abnormal; abortion; Ace bandage; active bilaterally; aid to the blind; airbag; alcian blue; alertness behavior; antibiotic; antibody; antigen binding; apex beat; asbestos body; asthmatic bronchitis; axiobuccal; Bachelor of Arts [Lat. Artium Baccalaureus]; blood group AB
A/B acid-base ratio
A&B apnea and bradycardia
A>B air greater than bone [conduction]
Ab abortion; antibiotic; antibody; antivenom
A_b amount in body
aB azure B
ab aberration; abortion; antibody; from [Lat.]
3AB 3-aminobenzamide
ABA abscissic acid; allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; American Board of Anesthesiologists; American Burn Association; antibacterial activity; arrest before arrival; autonomic blocking agent
ABACAS Adjunctive Balloon Angioplasty Following Coronary Atherectomy Study
AB/AM antibiotic/antimycotic
ABAT American Board of Applied Toxicology
ABAV Abadina virus
ABB Albright-Butler-Bloomberg [syndrome]; American Board of Bioanalysis
ABBI advanced breast biopsy instrument
ABBQ AIDS Beliefs and Behavior Questionnaire
abbr abbreviation, abbreviated
ABC abacavir; absolute basophil count; absolute bone conduction; acalculous biliary colic; acid balance control; aconite-belladonna-chloroform; adenosine triphosphate [ATP] binding cassette; airway, breathing, and circulation; alignment, blue, calcium [synovial fluid pearls in gout and pseudogout]; Alpha Beta Canadian [trial]; alternative birth center; alum, blood, and charcoal [purification and deodorizing method]; alum, blood, and clay [sludge deodorizing method]; American Blood Commission; aneurysmal bone cyst; antigen-binding capacity; antigen-binding cell; apnea, bradycardia, cyanosis; aspiration biopsy cytology; assessment of basic competency; atomic, biological, and chemical [warfare]; axiobuccocervical; autism behavior checklist; avidin-biotin peroxidase complex
A&BC air and bone conduction
ABCA1 ATP-binding cassette A1
ABCC Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission
ABCD airway, breathing, circulation, differential diagnosis (or defibrillate) [in cardiopulmonary resuscitation]; amphotericin B colloidal dispersion; appropriate blood pressure control in diabetes; asymmetry, borders are irregular, color variegated, diameter > 6 mm [biopsy in melanoma]
ABCDE airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure [in trauma patients]; botulism toxin pentavalent
ABCDES abnormal alignment, bones-periarticular osteoporosis, cartilage-joint space loss, deformities, marginal erosions, soft tissue swelling [x-ray features in rheumatoid arthritis]; adjust medication, bacterial prophylaxis, cervical spine disease, deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, evaluate extent and activity of disease, stress-dose steroid coverage [preoperative evaluation in rheumatoid diseases]; alignment, bone mineralization, calcifications, distribution of joints, erosions, soft tissue and nails [x-ray features in arthritis]; ankylosis, bone osteoporosis, cartilage destruction, deformity of joints, erosions, swelling of soft tissues [x-ray features of septic arthritis]
ABCIC airway, breathing, circulation, intravenous crystalloid
ABCIL antibody-mediated cell-dependent immunolympholysis
ABC-M chemical-biological aircraft mask
ABCN American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology
ABD abdomen; aged, blind, and disabled; aggressive behavioral disturbance; aortic barodenervated [rat]; automatic border detection; automatic boundary detection; average body dose
Abd, abd abdomen, abdominal; abduct, abduction, abductor
abdom abdomen, abdominal
ABDPH American Board of Dental Public Health
ABE acute bacterial endocarditis; American Board of Endodontics; botulism equine trivalent antitoxin
ABEM American Board of Emergency Medicine
ABEPP American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology
ABER abducted and externally rotated; auditory brainstem evoked response
aber aberrant
A-β amyloid beta-peptide
ABF aortic blood flow; aortobifemoral
ABG arterial blood gas; axiobucco-gingival
ABGC American Board of Genetic Counseling
ABI ankle/brachial index; atherothrombotic brain infarct
ABIC Adaptive Behavior Inventory for Children; antibody excess immune complex
ABIM American Board of Internal Medicine
ABIMCE American Board of Internal Medicine certifying examination
ABIT assertive behavior inventory tool
ABK aphakic bullous keratopathy
ABL Abelson proto-oncogene; abetalipoproteinemia; acceptable blood loss; acute basophilic leukemia; African Burkitt lymphoma; Albright-Butler-Lightwood [syndrome]; allograft-bound lymphocyte; angioblastic lymphadenopathy; antigen-binding lymphocyte; Army Biological Laboratory; automated biological laboratory; axiobuccolingual
Abl ablation
ABLB alternate binaural loudness balance
ABLC amphotericin B lipid complex
ABLES Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance
ABM abamectin; adjusted body mass; alveolar basement membrane; autologous bone marrow
ABMG American Board of Medical Genetics
ABMI autologous bone marrow infusion
AbMLV Abelson murine leukemia virus
ABMM American Board of Medical Management
ABMS American Board of Medical Specialties
ABMT American Board of Medical Toxicology; autologous bone marrow transplantation
ABMV Above Maiden virus; Abu Mina virus
AbMV Abutilon mosaic virus
AbN antibody nitrogen
Abn, abn abnormal; abnormality(ies)
ABNMP alpha-benzyl-N-methyl phenethylamine
ABNO anatomic abnormality [UMLS]
abnor abnormal
ABO abortion; absent bed occupancy; American Board of Orthodontists; blood group system consisting of groups A, AB, B, and O
ABOHN American Board for Occupational Health Nurses
ABOMS American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
ABOP American Board of Oral Pathology
Abor, abor abortion
ABOS American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
ABOVE Acute Bleeding Oesophageal Variceal Episodes [study]
ABP actin-binding protein; acute biliary pancreatitis; ambulatory blood pressure; American Board of Pedodontics; American Board of Periodontology; American Board of Prosthodontists; aminobiphenyl; androgen-binding protein; antigen-binding protein; arterial blood pressure; automatic systolic blood pressure measurement; avidin-biotin peroxidase
aBP arterial blood pressure
ABPA actin-binding protein, autosomal form; allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
ABPC antibody-producing cell
ABPE acute bovine pulmonary edema
ABPM ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
ABPM&R American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
ABPS American Board of Plastic Surgery
ABR abortus Bang ring [test]; absolute bed rest; American Board of Radiology; arterial baroreflex; auditory brainstem response
ABr agglutination test for brucellosis
Abr, Abras abrasion
ABRV Abras virus; Arbroath virus
ABS abdominal surgery; acidic ammonium bisulfate; acute brain syndrome; Adaptive Behavior Scale; admitting blood sugar; adult bovine serum; aging brain syndrome; alkylbenzene sulfonate; aloin, belladonna, strychnine; American Board of Surgery; amniotic band sequence; amniotic band syndrome; anti-B serum; Antley-Bixler syndrome; arterial blood sample; at bed side; Australian Bureau of Statistics
Abs absorption
abs absent; absolute
AB-SAAP autologous blood selective aortic arch perfusion
absc abscess; abscissa
abs conf absolute configuration
ABSe ascending bladder septum
abs feb while fever is absent
ABSITE American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination
absorp absorption
AbSR abnormal skin reflex
abst, abstr abstract
ABSV Absettarov virus
ABT abstract behavioral type; autologous blood transfusion; lopinavir
abt about
ABU asymptomatic bacteriuria
ABV actinomycin D-bleomycin-vincristine; Agaricus bisporus virus; Aglaonema bacilliform virus; Aransas Bay virus; arthropod-borne virus
AbV Agaricus bisporus virus
ABVD Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine
ABW average body weight
ABX abciximab; antibiotics
ABY acid bismuth yeast [medium]
AbYV Abutilon yellow virus
AC abdominal circumference; abdominal compression; ablation catheter; abrupt closure; absorption coefficient; abuse case; acetate; acetylcholine; acidified complement; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; acromioclavicular; activated charcoal; acupuncture clinic; acute; acute cholecystitis; adenocarcinoma; adenylate cyclase; adherent cell; adrenal cortex; adrenocorticoid; Adriamycin/cyclophosphamide; air chamber; air conditioning; air conduction; alcoholic cirrhosis; alternating current; alveolar crest; ambulatory care; anesthesia circuit; angiocellular; anodal closure; antecubital; anterior chamber; anterior column; anterior commissure; antibiotic concentrate; anticholinergic; anticoagulant; anticomplement; antiphlogistic corticoid; aortic closure; aortic compliance; aortocoronary; arm circumference; ascending colon; assist control [ventilation]; atriocarotid; autocorrelation; axiocervical; hydrogen cyanide [war gas]
A-C acromioclavicular; adult-versus-child; aortocoronary bypass
A/C albumin/coagulin [ratio]; anterior chamber of eye; assist control [ventilation]
A2C apical two-chamber [view]
A4C apical four-chamber [view]
Ac accelerator [globulin]; acetate; acetyl; actinium; anticoagulant, anticoagulation; aortic closure; arabinosyl cytosine
aC abcoulomb; arabinosyl cytosine