| ~ or ≈ | approximately |
| Δ | change |
| ↓ | down, downward, decreased, diminished |
| ♀ | female |
| ♂ | male |
| Ø | no, none |
| # | number (#5) or pounds (5# wt.) |
| × | number of times (×5, 5×) or minutes (×5 min) |
| / | per |
| 1° | primary |
| 2° | secondary, secondary to |
| ↔ | to and from |
| → | to, progressing toward, approaching |
| ↑ | up, upward, increased |
| ā | before |
| c̄ | with |
| p̄ | after |
| s̄ | without |
| A |
| A&O | alert and oriented |
| AAROM | active assistive range of motion |
| AB | antibody, abortion |
| abd | abdomen, abduction |
| ABGs | arterial blood gases |
| AC | axillary crutches |
| a.c. | before meals |
| ACL | anterior cruciate ligament |
| add | adduction |
| ad lib. | as desired, at discretion |
| ADH | antidiuretic hormone |
| ADHD | attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| ADLs | activities of daily living |
| AE | above the elbow |
| AED | automated external defibrillator |
| AF, A-fib | atrial fibrillation |
| AFB | acid-fast bacillus |
| AG, Ag | antigen |
| AGN | acute glomerulonephritis |
| AICD | automatic implanted cardioverter defibrillator |
| AIDS | acquired immune deficiency syndrome |
| AK | above the knee |
| AKA | above-the-knee amputation |
| ALS | amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) |
| a.m.a. | against medical advice |
| ANS | autonomic nervous system |
| ant | anterior |
| AOM | acute otitis media |
| AP | anteroposterior |
| ARDS | acute respiratory distress syndrome |
| ARF | acute renal failure |
| AROM | active range of motion |
| AS | ankylosing spondylitis, astigmatism |
| ASHD | arteriosclerotic heart disease |
| ATN | acute tubular necrosis |
| AV, A-V | atrioventricular |
| B |
| BCC | basal cell carcinoma |
| BE | below the elbow |
| BG, BS | blood glucose, blood sugar |
| bid, b.i.d. | twice a day |
| BK | below the knee |
| BKA | below-the-knee amputation |
| BM | bowel movement |
| BMD | bone mineral density |
| BMI | body mass index |
| BMR | basal metabolic rate |
| BNO | bladder neck obstruction |
| BOTOX | botulinum toxin |
| BP | blood pressure |
| BPH | benign prostatic hypertrophy (benign prostatic hyperplasia) |
| bpm | beats per minute |
| BRP | bathroom privileges |
| B/S | bedside |
| BSE | breast self-examination |
| BUN | blood urea nitrogen |
| Bx, | bx biopsy |
| C |
| C&S | culture and sensitivity |
| C1–C7 | first cervical vertebra, second cervical vertebra, etc. |
| Ca | calcium |
| CA | cancer, carcinoma |
| CABG | coronary artery bypass graft |
| CAD | coronary artery disease |
| CAT | cataract |
| cath | catheterization, catheter |
| CC or c/c | chief complaint |
| CCU | coronary care unit |
| CF | cystic fibrosis |
| CFS | chronic fatigue syndrome |
| CHF | congestive heart failure |
| CIRC | circumcision |
| CK | creatine kinase |
| CMC | chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis |
| CNS | central nervous system |
| c/o | complain (ed/ing/s/t) of |
| CO2 | carbon dioxide |
| cont. | continue |
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| CP | cerebral palsy, chest pain |
| CPAP | continuous positive airway pressure |
| CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| CPT | chest physiotherapy |
| CRF | chronic renal failure |
| C-section | cesarean section |
| CSF | cerebrospinal fluid |
| CT | computed tomography |
| CTS | carpal tunnel syndrome |
| CV | cardiovascular |
| CVA | cerebrovascular accident |
| CWP | coal worker’s pneumoconiosis |
| CXR | chest x-ray |
| cysto | cystoscopy |
| D |
| D&C | dilation and curettage |
| D/C or d/c | discharge, discontinue |
| decub | decubitus ulcer |
| derm | dermatology |
| DEXA | dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry |
| DI | diabetes insipidus |
| DIC | disseminated intravascular coagulation |
| DJD | degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) |
| DKA | diabetic ketoacidosis |
| DM | diabetes mellitus |
| DME | durable medical equipment |
| DNR | do not resuscitate |
| DOB | date of birth |
| DOE | dyspnea on exertion |
| DRE | digital rectal examination |
| DTR | deep tendon reflex |
| DVT | deep vein thrombosis |
| Dx | diagnosis |
| E |
| EBV | Epstein-Barr virus |
| ECG, EKG | ...