A-Z Medical Words and Abbreviations

A-Z Medical Words

A

• Abdomen: The tummy area from the lower ribs to the pelvis.

• Abdominal: Of the abdomen.

• Abrasion: Typically non‑serious scrape or cut.

• Abscess: Pocket of pus that forms due to an infection.

• Acute: Short‑term illness with rapid onset.

• Adhesions: Scars connecting body structures after surgery.

• Afferent nerve: Carries signals toward a structure.

• Alopecia: The partial or complete loss of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows.

• Ambulatory: Able to walk; not confined to bed.

• Anaemia: Low haemoglobin in the blood.

• Anaesthesia: Loss of sensation in part/all of body.

• Anaphylaxis: Severe allergic reaction needing emergency care.

• Antenatal: Before birth.

• Antibiotic: Medicine that fights bacterial infection.

• Anuric: Producing very little or no urine (very rare, serious).

• Appendectomy: Surgical removal of the appendix.

• Aural: Relating to the ear.

B

• Bacteria: Tiny organisms, some of which cause infection.

• Benign: Not cancerous.

• Biocompatible: Not harmful or toxic to living tissue.

• Biopsy: Tissue sample for microscopic examination.

• Brady-: Prefix meaning slow (opposite of tachy‑).

C

• Cannula: Thin tube inserted into a vein.

• Carcinoma: A type of cancer that starts in cells that make up the skin or the tissue lining organs. (New)

• Catheter: Tube placed in body (e.g. bladder or vein).

• Cells: Tiny building blocks of tissues and organs.

• Cholesterol: Blood fat group.

• Cholecystectomy: Gallbladder removal surgery.

• Chromosomes: Genetic structures carrying DNA.

• Chronic: Long‑term condition.

• Complications: Problems after surgery/treatment.

• Confidentiality: Duty to protect patient information.

• Contusion: Bruise.

• Cross‑match: Blood test before transfusion.

D

• Defibrillator: Device to restore heart rhythm with a shock.

• Dialysis: Filters waste from blood when kidneys fail.

• Dislocation: Bones in a joint out of place.

• Dyspnoea: Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

E

• Efferent nerve: Carries signals away from a structure.

• Embolism: Clot that travels in bloodstream.

• Endo-: Prefix meaning within.

• Epi-: Prefix meaning outside.

• Epidermis: Outer layer of skin.

• Epidural: Regional anaesthetic in back.

• Erythema: Redness of the skin caused by injury or inflamed blood capillaries.

F

• Febrile: Relating to or characterised by a fever.

• Fissure: Groove or cleft.

• Fossa: Shallow depression in bone.

• Fracture: Broken bone or cartilage.

G

• Gastritis: Inflammation of the protective lining of the stomach.

• Gland: Tissue or organ which produces a fluid for a certain purpose.

• Glomerulus: A tiny ball-like structure in the kidney that filters blood.

• Group and save (G&S): Blood sample to check your blood group in case a transfusion is needed.

H

• Haematoma: Solid swelling of clotted blood within tissues.

• Hematopoiesis: The production of all types of blood cells from stem cells in the bone marrow. (New)

• Hyperglycaemia: Excess glucose in the blood.

• Hypertension: High blood pressure.

• Hypoglycaemia: Lack of glucose in the blood (a ‘hypo’).

• Hypotension: Low blood pressure.

I

• Idiopathic: Denoting any disease or condition which arises spontaneously or for which the cause is unknown.

• Inpatient: Patient admitted to a hospital.

• In vitro: ‘In glass’; procedures done outside the living body.

• In vivo: Procedures carried out within the living body.

J & K

• Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bilirubin.

• Kyphosis: Forward rounding of the upper back (hunchback appearance).

L

• Laparotomy: A large incision into the abdomen to access organs.

• Lesion: Damage or abnormal change to tissue.

• Lobectomy: Surgical removal of a lobe of an organ.

• Lymphoedema: Swelling in an arm or leg caused by a lymphatic system blockage.

M

• Malignant: Cancerous; prone to invade and spread.

• Metastatic: Cancer that has spread from its primary site.

• Myalgia: Pain or aching in the muscles.

N

• Nasogastric (NG): A tube running through the nose into the stomach.

• Necrosis: The death of cells or tissues through injury or disease.

O

• Oedema: Swelling caused by excessive fluid trapped in tissues.

• Oliguric: Production of abnormally small amounts of urine.

• Oncology: The branch of medicine that specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer.

• Oral: Relating to the mouth.

• Outpatient: A patient who attends an appointment without staying overnight.

P & R

• Palliative care: Medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness.

• Parathyroid: Small glands in the neck that control calcium levels.

• Postnatal: The period immediately after childbirth.

• Prognosis: The likely course or outcome of a disease.

• Pruritus: Severe itching of the skin.

• Renal: Relating to or affecting the kidneys.

S

• Sclerosis: Hardening of tissue.

• Sepsis: Life-threatening condition caused by infection response.

• Stenosis: Abnormal narrowing of a body channel.

• Subcutaneous: Fluid or medication delivered under the skin.

• Suppository: Small, solid pill inserted into the anus.

• Sutures: Stitches used to hold tissue together.

• Syncope: Temporary loss of consciousness caused by a fall in blood pressure (fainting).

T

• Tachycardia: An abnormally rapid heart rate.

• Thrombocytopenia: Too few platelets in the blood.

• Thrombus: A blood clot formed in situ.

• Transplant: Process of removing/placing an organ.

U

• Ulcer: A sore that develops on the lining of the body.

• Urticaria: Red, itchy welts on the skin caused by an allergic reaction (hives).

V & W

• Vaccine: Substance that promotes antibody production.

• Vertigo: A sensation of whirling and loss of balance, typically caused by disease affecting the inner ear.

• WHO Checklist: Global standard safety checks for surgery.

X, Y & Z

• X-ray: Radiation used to create images of the inside of the body.

• Zoonotic disease: A disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Abbreviations Glossary

A

• AAA: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

• A&E: Accident and Emergency

• ABG: Arterial Blood Gas

• ABO: Blood group system

• ACE: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme

• ACS: Acute Coronary Syndrome

• ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• ADL: Activities of Daily Living

• AF: Atrial Fibrillation

• AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

• AKI: Acute Kidney Injury

• ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• ALT/AST: Liver function enzymes

B

• BCC: Basal Cell Carcinoma

• BCG: Tuberculosis vaccine

• BMD: Bone Mineral Density

• BMI: Body Mass Index

• BMT: Bone Marrow Transplant

• BP: Blood Pressure

• BPH: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

C

• CABG: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

• CAD: Coronary Artery Disease

• CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• C diff: Clostridium difficile

• CF: Cystic Fibrosis

• CHD: Coronary Heart Disease

• CKD: Chronic Kidney Disease

• CNS: Central Nervous System

• COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• CRP: C-Reactive Protein

• CT scan: Computed Tomography scan

• CVA: Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)

D & E

• DKA: Diabetic Ketoacidosis

• DM: Diabetes Mellitus

• DNR: Do Not Resuscitate

• DVT: Deep Vein Thrombosis

• ECG/EKG: Electrocardiogram

• ECHO: Echocardiogram

• EEG: Electroencephalogram

• EMG: Electromyography

• ENT: Ear, Nose, and Throat

F, G & H

• FBC: Full Blood Count

• GFR: Glomerular Filtration Rate

• GI: Gastrointestinal

• GMC: General Medical Council

• GORD/GERD: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

• HbA1c: Glycated Haemoglobin (Long-term blood sugar test)

• HDL/LDL: Types of Cholesterol

• HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus

• HRT: Hormone Replacement Therapy

I, L & M

• IBD: Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• ICP: Intracranial Pressure

• ICU: Intensive Care Unit

• LFT: Liver Function Test

• LOC: Level of Consciousness

• MI: Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)

• MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• MRSA: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

N, O, P & R

• NICE: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

• NPO: Nil Per Os (Nothing by mouth)

• NSAID: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug

• OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• OR: Operating Room

• OTC: Over-The-Counter (Medications)

• PAD: Peripheral Artery Disease

• PCOS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

• PRN: Pro Re Nata (As needed)

• PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• RBC: Red Blood Cell (New)

S, T, U & W

• SLE: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• STI: Sexually Transmitted Infection

• TIA: Transient Ischaemic Attack

• UTI: Urinary Tract Infection

• WBC: White Blood Cell

Anatomical Directional Terms

Movement Terms