# Medical Terminology Reference

## Common Medical Abbreviations

### Vital Signs & Measurements
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|--------------|---------|
| BP | Blood Pressure |
| HR | Heart Rate |
| RR | Respiratory Rate |
| Temp | Temperature |
| SpO2 | Oxygen Saturation |
| Wt | Weight |
| Ht | Height |
| BMI | Body Mass Index |

### Common Medical Terms
| Term | Definition |
|------|------------|
| Afebrile | Without fever |
| Ambulatory | Able to walk |
| Bilateral | Affecting both sides |
| Chronic | Long-lasting |
| Distal | Farther from center |
| Edema | Swelling |
| Proximal | Closer to center |
| Unilateral | Affecting one side |

### Prescription Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|--------------|---------|
| BID | Twice daily |
| TID | Three times daily |
| QID | Four times daily |
| PRN | As needed |
| PO | By mouth |
| IM | Intramuscular |
| IV | Intravenous |

## Symptom Vocabulary

### Pain Descriptors
- Sharp
- Dull
- Burning
- Throbbing
- Cramping
- Shooting
- Aching
- Stabbing

### Severity Scale
- Mild (1-3/10)
- Moderate (4-6/10)
- Severe (7-10/10)

### Onset Patterns
- Acute (sudden)
- Chronic (long-standing)
- Gradual
- Intermittent
- Constant

## Body Systems Terminology

### Cardiovascular
| Term | Meaning |
|------|---------|
| Arrhythmia | Irregular heartbeat |
| Bradycardia | Slow heart rate |
| Hypertension | High blood pressure |
| Hypotension | Low blood pressure |
| Tachycardia | Fast heart rate |
| Murmur | Abnormal heart sound |

### Respiratory
| Term | Meaning |
|------|---------|
| Apnea | Cessation of breathing |
| Dyspnea | Difficulty breathing |
| Tachypnea | Rapid breathing |
| Wheezing | Whistling breathing sound |
| Rales | Crackling lung sounds |
| Rhonchi | Coarse rattling sounds |

### Neurological
| Term | Meaning |
|------|---------|
| Aphasia | Speech difficulty |
| Ataxia | Loss of coordination |
| Paresthesia | Numbness/tingling |
| Syncope | Fainting |
| Vertigo | Dizziness |

### Gastrointestinal
| Term | Meaning |
|------|---------|
| Dysphagia | Difficulty swallowing |
| Nausea | Sensation of vomiting |
| Reflux | Backward flow |
| Ascites | Fluid in abdomen |

## Common Medications

### Drug Classes
| Class | Examples |
|-------|----------|
| ACE Inhibitors | Lisinopril, Enalapril |
| Beta Blockers | Metoprolol, Atenolol |
| Statins | Atorvastatin, Simvastatin |
| NSAIDs | Ibuprofen, Naproxen |
| Opioids | Morphine, Oxycodone |
| Antibiotics | Amoxicillin, Azithromycin |

## Diagnostic Terms

### Imaging
| Term | Description |
|------|-------------|
| X-ray | Radiographic imaging |
| CT | Computed tomography |
| MRI | Magnetic resonance imaging |
| Ultrasound | Sonographic imaging |
| PET | Positron emission tomography |

### Laboratory
| Term | Description |
|------|-------------|
| CBC | Complete blood count |
| BMP | Basic metabolic panel |
| CMP | Comprehensive metabolic panel |
| LFT | Liver function tests |
| Hgb A1c | Glycated hemoglobin |
| Lipid panel | Cholesterol profile |

## Assessment/Plan Terminology

### Diagnostic Language
- Rule out (R/O)
- Consistent with
- Suggestive of
- Compatible with
- Secondary to

### Treatment Language
- Initiate
- Continue
- Discontinue
- Titrate
- Monitor
- Reassess
- Refer

## Common Medical Conditions

### Cardiovascular
- Hypertension (HTN)
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
- Myocardial Infarction (MI)
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

### Endocrine
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 1/2 (DM)
- Hypothyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Cushing's Syndrome

### Respiratory
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis

### Neurological
- Migraine
- Seizure Disorder
- Stroke
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

### Mental Health
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Schizophrenia

## Negation Terms
Terms indicating absence of a finding:
- Denies
- No evidence of
- Without
- Absence of
- Negative for
- Ruled out
