How many medical abbreviations are there

Benign : Not cancerous. Chronic : Signifies a recurring, persistent condition like heart disease. Contusion : A bruise. Defibrillator : A medical device that uses electric shocks to restore normal heartbeat. Edema : Swelling caused by fluid accumulation.

Embolism : An arterial blockage, often caused by a blood clot. Epidermis : The outer layer of the skin. Fracture : Broken bone or cartilage. Gland : An organ or tissue that produces and secretes fluids that serve a specific function.

Hypertension : High blood pressure. Inpatient : A patient who requires hospitalization. Malignant : Indicates the presence of cancerous cells. Outpatient : A patient who receives care without being admitted to a hospital.

Prognosis : The predicated outcome of disease progression and treatment. Relapse : Return of disease or symptoms after a patient has recovered. Sutures : Stitches, which are used to join tissues together as they heal. Transplant : The removal of an organ or tissue from one body that is implanted into another. Vaccine : A substance that stimulates antibody production to provide immunity against disease. Zoonotic disease : A disease that is transmissible from animals to humans.

Medical terminology follows the same structural rules all language does, including use of prefixes and suffixes. Davis Company; Accessed November 13, In Venes, D. Davis Company. Medical Abbreviations [Internet]. In: Venes DD, editors. Your free 1 year of online access expired.

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List of Common Abbreviations in Medicine The following medical abbreviations list has been organized into a number of basic categories. General Terms These general medical terms are oftentimes abbreviated for ease of communication.