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All acronyms
Browse medical acronyms with meanings, categories and clinical context.
Arterial blood gas
A blood test used to assess oxygenation, carbon dioxide and acid-base status.
Anterior cruciate ligament
A knee ligament connecting the femur to the tibia and important for knee stability.
Adenosine diphosphate
A nucleotide formed when ATP loses one phosphate group.
Alanine aminotransferase
A liver-associated enzyme measured in liver function testing.
Aspartate aminotransferase
An enzyme found in liver, muscle and other tissues.
Adenosine triphosphate
A high-energy molecule used as a cellular energy currency.
Blood pressure
The pressure exerted by circulating blood on arterial walls.
Carcinoma in situ
A pre-invasive epithelial malignancy that has not breached the basement membrane.
Central nervous system
The brain and spinal cord.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
A chronic respiratory condition characterised by persistent airflow limitation.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Emergency chest compressions and rescue measures used in cardiac arrest.
Colorectal cancer
Cancer arising from the colon or rectum.
C-reactive protein
An inflammatory marker measured in blood tests.
Ductal carcinoma in situ
A non-invasive malignant proliferation confined to breast ducts.
Deep vein thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, commonly in the leg.
Electrocardiogram
A recording of the heart’s electrical activity over time.
Full blood count
A common blood test measuring red cells, white cells and platelets.
Fine needle aspiration
A sampling technique using a fine needle to obtain cells or fluid.
Glasgow Coma Scale
A clinical scale used to assess level of consciousness.
Glomerular filtration rate
A measure of kidney filtration function.
Glycated haemoglobin
A blood marker reflecting average blood glucose over roughly the previous two to three months.
Hepatocellular carcinoma
A primary malignant tumour of hepatocytes.
Heart rate
The number of heart beats per minute.
Immunohistochemistry
A laboratory technique using antibodies to detect antigens in tissue sections.
Jugular venous pressure
A clinical sign used to estimate right atrial pressure.
Lactate dehydrogenase
An enzyme involved in the conversion between lactate and pyruvate.
Medial collateral ligament
A ligament on the medial side of the knee that resists valgus stress.
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial injury caused by ischaemia, commonly known as a heart attack.
Magnetic resonance imaging
An imaging technique using magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed internal images.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
An electron carrier involved in redox reactions and metabolism.
Posterior cruciate ligament
A knee ligament that helps prevent posterior displacement of the tibia.
Pulmonary embolism
A blockage of the pulmonary arteries, usually by thrombus.
Peripheral nervous system
The nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord.
Respiratory rate
The number of breaths per minute.
Systolic blood pressure
The arterial pressure during ventricular contraction.
Peripheral oxygen saturation
An estimate of haemoglobin oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry.
Temporomandibular joint
The joint between the temporal bone and mandible.