List of medical abbreviations: B
Encyclopedia
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bx | biopsy Biopsy A biopsy is a medical test involving sampling of cells or tissues for examination. It is the medical removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease. The tissue is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist, and can also be analyzed chemically... |
| Ba | barium Barium Barium is a chemical element with the symbol Ba and atomic number 56. It is the fifth element in Group 2, a soft silvery metallic alkaline earth metal. Barium is never found in nature in its pure form due to its reactivity with air. Its oxide is historically known as baryta but it reacts with... |
| BAC | blood alcohol content Blood alcohol content Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes.... |
| BAL | bronchoalveolar lavage Bronchoalveolar lavage Bronchoalveolar lavage is a medical procedure in which a bronchoscope is passed through the mouth or nose into the lungs and fluid is squirted into a small part of the lung and then recollected for examination. BAL is typically performed to diagnose lung disease... British anti-Lewisite blood alcohol level Blood alcohol content Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes.... |
| BAO | basic acid output |
| BAT | brown adipose tissue Brown adipose tissue Brown adipose tissue or brown fat is one of two types of fat or adipose tissue found in mammals.... |
| BBA | bilateral breast augmentation |
| BBB | blood–brain barrier |
| BBB L | left bundle branch block Left bundle branch block Left bundle branch block is a cardiac conduction abnormality seen on the electrocardiogram . In this condition, activation of the left ventricle is delayed, which results in the left ventricle contracting later than the right ventricle.... |
| BBB R | right bundle branch block Right bundle branch block A right bundle branch block is a defect in the heart's electrical conduction system.During a right bundle branch block, the right ventricle is not directly activated by impulses travelling through the right bundle branch. The left ventricle however, is still normally activated by the left bundle... |
| BBT | basal body temperature |
| BC | bone conduction Bone conduction Bone conduction is the conduction of sound to the inner ear through the bones of the skull.Bone conduction is the reason why a person's voice sounds different to him/her when it is recorded and played back. Because the skull conducts lower frequencies better than air, people perceive their own... blood culture Blood culture Blood culture is a microbiological culture of blood. It is employed to detect infections that are spreading through the bloodstream... |
| BCC | basal cell carcinoma Basal cell carcinoma Basal-cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It rarely metastasizes or kills. However, because it can cause significant destruction and disfigurement by invading surrounding tissues, it is still considered malignant. Statistically, approximately 3 out of 10 Caucasians may develop a... blind carbon copy Blind Carbon Copy In the context of correspondence, blind carbon copy refers to the practice of sending a message to multiple recipients in such a way that conceals the fact that there may be additional addressees from the complete list of recipients... |
| BCG | bacille Calmette-Guerin (a tuberculosis Tuberculosis Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body... vaccination) |
| BCP | birth control pill |
| BCX BCx | blood culture Blood culture Blood culture is a microbiological culture of blood. It is employed to detect infections that are spreading through the bloodstream... |
| BBMF | "bone break, me fix" (orthopedic consent form Informed consent Informed consent is a phrase often used in law to indicate that the consent a person gives meets certain minimum standards. As a literal matter, in the absence of fraud, it is redundant. An informed consent can be said to have been given based upon a clear appreciation and understanding of the... ) |
| BD | bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or... twice a day (from Latin bis in die) |
| BDD | body dysmorphic disorder Body dysmorphic disorder Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a type of mental illness, a somatoform disorder, wherein the affected person is exclusively concerned with body image, manifested as excessive concern about and preoccupation with a perceived defect of his or her physical features... |
| BDI | Beck Depression Inventory Beck Depression Inventory The Beck Depression Inventory , created by Dr. Aaron T. Beck, is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, one of the most widely used instruments for measuring the severity of depression... |
| BE | barium enema base excess Base excess In human physiology, base excess and base deficit refer to an excess or deficit, respectively, in the amount of base present in the blood. The value is usually reported as a concentration in units of mEq/L, with positive numbers indicating an excess of base and negative a deficit... |
| BFP | bundle forming pilus |
| BGAT | blood glucose awareness training (to help patients with diabetic hypoglycemia Diabetic hypoglycemia Diabetic hypoglycemia is a low blood glucose level occurring in a person with diabetes mellitus. It is one of the most common types of hypoglycemia seen in emergency departments and hospitals... ) |
| BGL | blood glucose level Blood sugar The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally in mammals, the body maintains the blood glucose level at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM , or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL... |
| BIB | brought in by |
| BIBA | brought in by ambulance |
| BID bid b.i.d. | twice a day (from Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and... bis in die) |
| Bilat eq | bilaterally equal |
| BiPAP | bilevel positive airway pressure |
| BiVAD | bilateral ventricular assist device Ventricular assist device A Ventricular assist device, or VAD, is a mechanical circulatory device that is used to partially or completely replace the function of a failing heart... (left and right) |
| BK | bradykinin Bradykinin Bradykinin is a peptide that causes blood vessels to dilate , and therefore causes blood pressure to lower. A class of drugs called ACE inhibitors, which are used to lower blood pressure, increase bradykinin further lowering blood pressure... |
| BKA | below-the-knee amputation Amputation Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for... |
| bl.cult | blood culture Blood culture Blood culture is a microbiological culture of blood. It is employed to detect infections that are spreading through the bloodstream... |
| bld | blood Blood Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells.... |
| BLS | basic life support Basic life support Basic life support is the level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until the patient can be given full medical care at a hospital. It can be provided by trained medical personnel, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and by... |
| BM | bowel movement bone marrow Bone marrow Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg... |
| BMC | bone mineral content |
| BMD | bone mineral density (also termed bone mass measurement) |
| BMI | body mass index Body mass index The body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing... |
| BMP | blood metabolic profile |
| BMR | basal metabolic rate Basal metabolic rate Basal Metabolic Rate , and the closely related resting metabolic rate , is the amount of daily energy expended by humans and other animals at rest. Rest is defined as existing in a neutrally temperate environment while in the post-absorptive state... |
| BMT | bone marrow transplantation |
| BNO | bowel not open |
| BNP | brain natriuretic peptide Brain natriuretic peptide Brain natriuretic peptide , now known as B-type natriuretic peptide or GC-B, is a 32 amino acid polypeptide secreted by the ventricles of the heart in response to excessive stretching of heart muscle cells... |
| BO | bowel open |
| B/O | because of |
| BOA | born out of asepsis Asepsis Asepsis is the state of being free from disease-causing contaminants or, preventing contact with microorganisms. The term asepsis often refers to those practices used to promote or induce asepsis in an operative field in surgery or medicine to prevent infection... |
| BOI | born on island (i.e., a local patient) |
| BOM | bilateral otitis media Otitis media Otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear, or a middle ear infection.It occurs in the area between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear, including a duct known as the eustachian tube. It is one of the two categories of ear inflammation that can underlie what is commonly called an earache,... |
| BOOP | bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia is an inflammation of the bronchioles and surrounding tissue in the lungs. It is an non infectious pneumonia. BOOP is often caused by a pre-existing chronic inflammatory disease like rheumatoid arthritis. BOOP can also be a side effect of certain... |
| BP | blood pressure Blood pressure Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies... bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or... British Pharmacopoeia British Pharmacopoeia The British Pharmacopoeia is an annual published collection of quality standards for UK medicinal substances. It is used by individuals and organizations involved in pharmaceutical research, development, manufacture and testing.... |
| BPAD | bipolar affective disorder Bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or... |
| BPD | biparietal diameter borderline personality disorder Borderline personality disorder Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder described as a prolonged disturbance of personality function in a person , characterized by depth and variability of moods.The disorder typically involves unusual levels of instability in mood; black and white thinking, or splitting; the... bronchopulmonary dysplasia |
| BPH | benign prostatic hyperplasia Benign prostatic hyperplasia Benign prostatic hyperplasia also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy , benign enlargement of the prostate , and adenofibromyomatous hyperplasia, refers to the increase in size of the prostate.... aka benign prostatic hypertrophy |
| BPM | beats per minute |
| BPP | biophysical profile |
| BPPV | benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a disorder caused by problems in the inner ear. Its symptoms are repeated episodes of positional vertigo, that is, of a spinning sensation caused by changes in the position of the head.-Classification:... |
| BR | bedrest bathroom Bathroom A bathroom is a room for bathing in containing a bathtub and/or a shower and optionally a toilet, a sink/hand basin/wash basin and possibly also a bidet.... |
| BRA | bilateral renal agenesis Renal agenesis Renal agenesis is a unilateral or bilateral medical condition in which one or both fetal kidneys fail to develop leading to oligohydramnios, resulting in a 40-fold increase in perinatal mortality.It can be associated with RET or UPK3A.-Bilateral:... |
| BRAT | The BRAT diet BRAT diet The BRAT diet is a treatment historically prescribed for patients with gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, and/or gastroenteritis. The BRAT diet consists of foods that are relatively bland and low in fiber... : bananas, rice, applesauce, (dry) toast (helps digestion in some GI disorders) |
| BRATY | another version of the BRAT diet BRAT diet The BRAT diet is a treatment historically prescribed for patients with gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, and/or gastroenteritis. The BRAT diet consists of foods that are relatively bland and low in fiber... : bananas, rice, applesauce, (dry) toast, yogurt (helps digestion in some GI disorders) |
| BRB | bright red blood (color is important as an indicator of source, for example in gastrointestinal bleeding Gastrointestinal bleeding Gastrointestinal bleeding or gastrointestinal hemorrhage describes every form of hemorrhage in the gastrointestinal tract, from the pharynx to the rectum. It has diverse causes, and a medical history, as well as physical examination, generally distinguishes between the main forms... ) |
| BRBPR | bright red blood per rectum Hematochezia Hematochezia is the passage of fresh blood per anus, usually in or with stools . Hematochezia is commonly associated with lower gastrointestinal bleeding, but may also occur from a brisk upper GI bleed... |
| BRCA1 (gene) BRCA1 (protein) | breast cancer 1 BRCA1 BRCA1 is a human caretaker gene that produces a protein called breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein, responsible for repairing DNA. The first evidence for the existence of the gene was provided by the King laboratory at UC Berkeley in 1990... (a human gene and its protein) |
| BRCA2 (gene) BRCA2 (protein) | breast cancer 2 BRCA2 BRCA2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BRCA2 gene.BRCA2 orthologs have been identified in most mammals for which complete genome data are available.... (a human gene and its protein) |
| BRP | bathroom privileges Bathroom privileges Bathroom privileges refers to the rules or the possibility of the use of a restroom for defecation/urination. Most commonly, the term is used in the following settings:* In schools the expression means the usage of the bathroom during the lessons... |
| BS | breath breath sound bowel sounds on auscultation Auscultation Auscultation is the term for listening to the internal sounds of the body, usually using a stethoscope... with stethoscope Stethoscope The stethoscope is an acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to the internal sounds of an animal body. It is often used to listen to lung and heart sounds. It is also used to listen to intestines and blood flow in arteries and veins... blood sugar Blood sugar The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally in mammals, the body maintains the blood glucose level at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM , or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL... |
| BSA | body surface area Body surface area In physiology and medicine, the body surface area is the measured or calculated surface of a human body. For many clinical purposes BSA is a better indicator of metabolic mass than body weight because it is less affected by abnormal adipose mass... |
| BSC | bedside commode |
| BSE | bovine spongiform encephalopathy Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Bovine spongiform encephalopathy , commonly known as mad-cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. BSE has a long incubation period, about 30 months to 8 years, usually affecting adult cattle at a peak age onset of... breast self-examination Breast self-examination Breast self-examination is a screening method used in an attempt to detect early breast cancer. The method involves the woman herself looking at and feeling each breast for possible lumps, distortions or swelling.... |
| BSL | blood sugar level Blood sugar The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally in mammals, the body maintains the blood glucose level at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM , or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL... |
| BSO | bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy |
| BSP | bromsulphthalein Bromsulphthalein Bromsulphthalein is a dye used in liver function tests. Its excretion is measured.... |
| BT | bleeding time Bleeding time Bleeding time is a medical test done on someone to assess their platelet functionThe term "template bleeding time" is used when the test is performed to standardized parameters. This makes it easier to compare data collected at different facilities.... |
| BTL | bilateral tubal ligation Tubal ligation Tubal ligation or tubectomy is a surgical procedure for sterilization in which a woman's fallopian tubes are clamped and blocked, or severed and sealed, either method of which prevents eggs from reaching the uterus for fertilization... |
| BTP | breakthrough pain |
| BUN | blood urea nitrogen Blood urea nitrogen The blood urea nitrogen test is a measure of the amount of nitrogen in the blood in the form of urea, and a measurement of renal function. Urea is a by- product from metabolism of proteins by the liver and is removed from the blood by the kidneys.-Physiology:The liver produces urea in the urea... |
| BV | bacterial vaginosis Bacterial vaginosis Bacterial vaginosis or less commonly vaginal bacteriosis is a disease of the vagina caused by bacteria. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states it is not clear what role sexual activity plays in the development. However, it is known that BV is associated with having a new sex... |
| BVP | biventricular pacing (see artificial pacemaker Artificial pacemaker A pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart... ) |
| BW | blood work (blood test Blood test A blood test is a laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a needle, or via fingerprick.... s) birth weight |
| Bx | biopsy Biopsy A biopsy is a medical test involving sampling of cells or tissues for examination. It is the medical removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease. The tissue is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist, and can also be analyzed chemically... |
| BZDs | benzodiazepine Benzodiazepine A benzodiazepine is a psychoactive drug whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring... s |