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Medical Abbreviations Starting With "G"
This page lists 142 medical abbreviations starting with "G", each with its full form and a plain-English meaning. Where one abbreviation has more than one common meaning, each meaning has its own row — context in the chart is what tells them apart. Terms flagged ⚠ Error-prone are on recognised error-prone lists and should be written out in full. Use the filter box to narrow this list, the search on the main guide to search all 5,715 entries, or jump to another letter:
A B C D E F H I J K L M N 0–9 O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
| Abbreviation | Full form | What it means | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| g | gram | Unit of weight in the metric system | Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory |
| G&S | group and save | Blood group testing with sample storage, UK-style term | Laboratory Surgery |
| G-CSF | granulocyte colony-stimulating factor | Growth factor boosting neutrophil production | Hematology & Oncology |
| G-POEM | gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy | Scope procedure opening the stomach outlet | Gastroenterology Surgery |
| G-tube exchange | gastrostomy tube exchange | Changing an established stomach feeding tube | Gastroenterology Surgery Nursing |
| G-tube feed | gastrostomy tube feeding | Feeding through a stomach tube | Nursing Gastroenterology |
| G6PD | glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase | Enzyme whose deficiency can cause red cell breakdown | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology |
| G6PD | glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency | Inherited enzyme deficiency affecting red blood cells | Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Laboratory |
| GA | general anesthesia | Being fully unconscious during a procedure | Surgery |
| GA | gestational age | Age of a pregnancy measured from the last menstrual period | Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics |
| GABA-B | GABA-B receptor antibody | Autoimmune encephalitis antibody | Neurology Laboratory |
| Gad | gadolinium | Contrast agent used in MRI scans | Radiology & Imaging |
| GAD | generalized anxiety disorder | Persistent excessive worry about many things | Psychiatry |
| GAD antibodies | glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies | Autoimmune diabetes antibody panel component | Laboratory Endocrinology |
| GAD-7 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 | Seven-question anxiety severity scale | Psychiatry |
| GAD65 | glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 | Pancreatic enzyme targeted by antibodies in type 1 diabetes | Laboratory Endocrinology |
| GAF | Global Assessment of Functioning | Older global functioning score | Psychiatry |
| gag reflex exam | gag reflex (examination) | Throat reflex testing the brainstem — exam | Neurology Emergency & Critical Care |
| GAHS | Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score | Alcoholic hepatitis prognosis score | Gastroenterology |
| galactosemia | galactosemia (diagnosis) | Milk sugar metabolic disorder — diagnosis | Pediatrics Laboratory |
| Galant | Galant reflex (trunk incurvation) | Side-bending reflex of newborns | Pediatrics Neurology |
| Galeazzi fx | Galeazzi fracture-dislocation | Forearm fracture with wrist dislocation | Musculoskeletal Surgery |
| gallows traction | gallows traction (Bryant) | Alternate name for toddler overhead traction | Pediatrics Musculoskeletal |
| gamekeeper | gamekeeper's thumb (skier's thumb) | Thumb ligament injury at the knuckle | Musculoskeletal Surgery |
| gap closed | anion gap closure (DKA endpoint) | Resolution marker ending the insulin drip | Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology Laboratory |
| Gardner-Wells | Gardner-Wells tongs (skull traction) | Skull tongs for neck traction | Musculoskeletal Surgery Emergency & Critical Care |
| Gartland | Gartland classification (supracondylar) | Displacement classes of elbow fractures | Pediatrics Musculoskeletal |
| GAS | group A Streptococcus | Bacterium causing throat and skin infections | Infectious Disease |
| gastric emptying study | gastric emptying scintigraphy | Nuclear test of stomach emptying speed | Radiology & Imaging Gastroenterology |
| Gastroc | gastrocnemius (calf muscle) | Large calf muscle | Musculoskeletal |
| gastroschisis | gastroschisis (defect) | Bowel outside the belly beside the cord — defect | Pediatrics Surgery |
| GAT | Goldmann applanation tonometry | Standard contact method of measuring eye pressure | General Medical |
| Gaucher | Gaucher disease (lysosomal) | Commonest lysosomal storage disorder | Pediatrics Laboratory Hematology & Oncology |
| gaze stability | gaze stabilization exercises | Head-eye exercises improving balance reflex | Neurology |
| gaze-evoked | gaze-evoked nystagmus (type) | Eye oscillation appearing on side gaze | Neurology |
| GB | gallbladder | Small organ storing bile under the liver | Gastroenterology |
| GBM | glioblastoma multiforme | Fast-growing malignant brain tumour | Neurology Hematology & Oncology |
| GBS | group B Streptococcus | Bacterium carried in pregnancy that can infect newborns | Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics |
| GBS | Guillain-Barré syndrome | Immune attack on peripheral nerves causing ascending weakness | Neurology |
| GBS bleed | Glasgow-Blatchford Score | Pre-endoscopy upper GI bleed risk score | Gastroenterology Emergency & Critical Care |
| GBS variants | Guillain-Barré variants (AMAN/AMSAN) | Motor-predominant Guillain-Barré forms | Neurology |
| GC | gemcitabine cisplatin | Bladder and lung cancer combination shorthand | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| GC | glucocorticoid | Steroid hormone medicine reducing inflammation | Prescription & Medication Orders |
| GC | gonococcus | Bacterium causing gonorrhoea | Infectious Disease |
| GCA | giant cell arteritis | Inflammation of large arteries, often in the temple | Neurology Musculoskeletal |
| GCA eye | giant cell arteritis (ocular involvement) | Artery inflammation threatening vision | General Medical Emergency & Critical Care Musculoskeletal |
| GCS | Glasgow Coma Scale | Score assessing level of consciousness | Emergency & Critical Care Neurology |
| GCS | group C Streptococcus | Strep group causing throat and soft tissue infection | Infectious Disease Laboratory |
| GCS eye | Glasgow Coma Scale eye component | Eye-opening part of the coma score | Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Vitals & Assessment |
| GCS motor | Glasgow Coma Scale motor component | Movement part of the coma score | Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Vitals & Assessment |
| GCS verbal | Glasgow Coma Scale verbal component | Speech part of the coma score | Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Vitals & Assessment |
| GCV | ganciclovir (chart shorthand) | CMV antiviral chart shorthand | Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease |
| GDA | gastroduodenal artery | Artery behind the stomach outlet | Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging |
| GDD | global developmental delay | Significant delay in several areas of development in a young child | Pediatrics Neurology |
| GDM | gestational diabetes mellitus | Diabetes first recognised during pregnancy | Obstetrics & Gynecology Endocrinology |
| GDP | gemcitabine dexamethasone cisplatin | Salvage lymphoma chemotherapy combination | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| GDS | Global Deterioration Scale (dementia staging) | Seven-stage dementia scale — staging | Neurology Psychiatry |
| GEF | gefitinib (chart shorthand) | EGFR blocker pill shorthand | Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology |
| GEM | gemcitabine (chart shorthand) | Pancreatic and lung cancer chemotherapy shorthand | Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology |
| GEN | gentamicin (chart shorthand) | Aminoglycoside antibiotic chart shorthand | Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease |
| gene expression graft | gene expression profiling (graft monitoring) | Blood test of graft immune activity | Renal & Nephrology Laboratory |
| genitofemoral n | genitofemoral nerve | Groin and genital skin nerve | Neurology |
| GER | gastroesophageal reflux | Stomach contents flowing back into the food pipe | Pediatrics Gastroenterology |
| GERD | gastroesophageal reflux disease | Stomach acid flowing back into the food pipe | Gastroenterology |
| GERD child | infant reflux (physiologic) | Normal baby spitting up pattern | Pediatrics Gastroenterology |
| germ cell child | pediatric germ cell tumors (group) | Egg and sperm cell tumors of childhood | Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology |
| gesture | suicide gesture (older term) | Self-harm act judged low in lethal intent | Psychiatry |
| GF diet | gluten-free diet | Diet required in celiac disease | Nursing Gastroenterology |
| GFAP | glial fibrillary acidic protein | Brain injury and Alzheimer blood marker | Neurology Laboratory |
| gFOBT | guaiac fecal occult blood test | Chemical stool blood test | Laboratory Gastroenterology |
| GFR | glomerular filtration rate | Measure of how well the kidneys filter blood | Laboratory Renal & Nephrology |
| GGO | ground-glass opacity (abbreviation) | Hazy increased lung density on CT | Radiology & Imaging Respiratory |
| GGS | group G Streptococcus | Strep group causing skin and bloodstream infection | Infectious Disease Laboratory |
| GGT | gamma-glutamyl transferase | Liver enzyme often raised with bile duct problems | Laboratory Gastroenterology |
| GH | growth hormone | Hormone promoting growth and metabolism | Laboratory Endocrinology Pediatrics |
| gHTN | gestational hypertension (shorthand) | New pregnancy hypertension without protein | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| GI | gastrointestinal | Relating to the stomach and intestines | Gastroenterology |
| GI bleed | gastrointestinal bleed | Bleeding anywhere in the digestive tract | Gastroenterology Emergency & Critical Care |
| GINA | Global Initiative for Asthma (control levels) | Asthma guideline control classification | Respiratory |
| gingivostomatitis | herpetic gingivostomatitis (mouth) | Painful mouth herpes of toddlers | Pediatrics Infectious Disease |
| giraffe | Giraffe omnibed (NICU brand) | Combined incubator-warmer bed brand | Pediatrics Nursing |
| GIST | gastrointestinal stromal tumour | Tumour arising from gut wall pacemaker cells | Gastroenterology Hematology & Oncology |
| Glenn | Glenn procedure (bidirectional) | Second-stage single ventricle surgery | Pediatrics Cardiology Surgery |
| global delay | global developmental delay (term) | Delay across all developmental areas | Pediatrics Neurology Psychiatry |
| glossopharyngeal | glossopharyngeal neuralgia (throat pain) | Throat and ear shock-like pain | Neurology |
| glossoptosis | glossoptosis (tongue fallback) | Tongue falling back blocking the airway | Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery |
| GLP-1 RA | glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist | Diabetes medicine class mimicking a gut hormone | Prescription & Medication Orders Endocrinology |
| GLS | global longitudinal strain | Echo measure of heart muscle deformation | Cardiology Radiology & Imaging |
| Glu | glucose | Sugar measured in the blood | Laboratory Endocrinology |
| glucola | glucola (glucose drink shorthand) | Sweet drink used in diabetes screening | Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory |
| glucose gel | dextrose gel (neonatal hypoglycemia) | Buccal sugar gel treating newborn low sugar | Pediatrics Endocrinology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| glute max | gluteus maximus (muscle) | Main buttock muscle | Musculoskeletal |
| glute med | gluteus medius (muscle) | Hip-stabilizing buttock muscle | Musculoskeletal |
| GM | galactomannan | Aspergillus marker in blood or lung fluid | Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory |
| GM-CSF | granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor | Growth factor boosting white cell production | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| GMFCS | Gross Motor Function Classification System | Cerebral palsy mobility level system | Pediatrics Neurology Musculoskeletal |
| GMS | Gomori methenamine silver stain | Silver stain highlighting fungi in tissue | Laboratory Infectious Disease |
| GN | glomerulonephritis | Inflammation of the kidney's filtering units | Renal & Nephrology |
| GnRH analog | GnRH analog (puberty blocker) | Medicine pausing puberty | Pediatrics Endocrinology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| GO | Graves orbitopathy | Eye involvement of Graves disease | General Medical Endocrinology |
| Go/No-Go | go/no-go test (impulsivity) | Response inhibition test | Neurology Psychiatry |
| GOC | goals of care | Discussion and documentation of treatment aims | Nursing Emergency & Critical Care General Medical |
| GOLD | Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease | International group setting COPD care standards | Respiratory |
| GOLDMARK | GOLDMARK (anion gap causes) | Updated causes mnemonic for a high gap | Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Renal & Nephrology |
| gonadal art | gonadal artery (testicular/ovarian) | Artery to the testicle or ovary | Renal & Nephrology Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| GP | general practitioner | Doctor providing primary and continuing care | General Medical |
| GP | globus pallidus (anatomy) | Inner basal ganglia structure | Neurology |
| GPAL | gravida para abortions living | Short version of the pregnancy history count | Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing |
| GPCOG | General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition | Primary care cognitive screen | Neurology Psychiatry |
| GRACE | Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score | Risk score after heart events | Cardiology |
| gracilis flap | gracilis flap (thigh muscle) | Inner thigh muscle used as a flap | Surgery |
| grade view | grade I-IV view (laryngoscopy) | Voice box view grading at intubation | Emergency & Critical Care |
| GRE | gradient recalled echo | Fast MRI sequence sensitive to blood and iron | Radiology & Imaging |
| greenstick | greenstick fracture (childhood) | Bent partial fracture of soft young bone | Pediatrics Musculoskeletal |
| grimace | grimace (response element) | Facial response to pain in coma scoring | Neurology Emergency & Critical Care |
| Grisel | Grisel syndrome (atlantoaxial subluxation) | Neck bone slip after throat inflammation | Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care |
| grounding pad | grounding pad (electrosurgery) | Return electrode pad for cautery safety | Nursing Surgery |
| growing pains | growing pains (benign limb pain) | Evening leg aches of childhood | Pediatrics Musculoskeletal |
| growing rods | growing rods (early scoliosis) | Lengthening rods for young spine curves | Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Surgery |
| growth chart review | growth chart review (visit element) | Plotting and interpreting growth at visits | Pediatrics Nursing |
| growth failure IBD | growth failure (IBD complication) | Poor growth from bowel inflammation | Pediatrics Gastroenterology Endocrinology |
| growth faltering | growth faltering (preferred term) | Modern term for poor growth | Pediatrics |
| grunting | grunting (newborn distress sign) | Sound of a baby splinting its lungs open | Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care |
| GS | gestational sac (ultrasound) | Fluid sac of early pregnancy on scan | Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging |
| GSD | glycogen storage diseases (group) | Sugar-storage disorder family | Pediatrics Laboratory Endocrinology |
| GSM | genitourinary syndrome of menopause | Vaginal and urinary changes from low estrogen | Obstetrics & Gynecology Renal & Nephrology Endocrinology |
| GSW | gunshot wound | Injury caused by a bullet | Emergency & Critical Care Surgery |
| GT | gastrostomy tube | Feeding tube going into the stomach | Gastroenterology Nursing |
| GTC | generalized tonic-clonic seizure (type) | Full convulsion seizure type | Neurology Emergency & Critical Care |
| GTCS | generalized tonic-clonic seizure | Seizure with stiffening and jerking of the whole body | Neurology |
| GTD | gestational trophoblastic disease | Group of placenta-cell growth disorders | Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology |
| GTN | gestational trophoblastic neoplasia | Cancerous form of molar pregnancy disease | Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology |
| GTN | glyceryl trinitrate | Nitrate medicine relaxing blood vessels, used for chest pain | Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology |
| GTPAL | gravida, term, preterm, abortions, living children | Shorthand summarising a person's pregnancy history | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| gtt | drops | Drops, from Latin guttae, describing liquid quantity | Prescription & Medication Orders |
| GTV | gross tumor volume | Visible tumor outlined for radiation planning | Radiology & Imaging Hematology & Oncology |
| GU | genitourinary | Relating to the urinary and reproductive organs | Renal & Nephrology General Medical |
| guillotine amp | guillotine amputation | Rapid open amputation for severe infection | Surgery Emergency & Critical Care |
| gun safety | firearm safe storage (counseling) | Locked unloaded separated storage counseling | Pediatrics Nursing Emergency & Critical Care |
| GVF | Goldmann visual field | Manual visual field test | General Medical |
| GVHD | graft-versus-host disease | Donor immune cells attacking the recipient's body | Hematology & Oncology |
| Gy | gray (radiation dose unit) | Unit of absorbed radiation dose | Radiology & Imaging Hematology & Oncology |
Educational reference only. This guide is for learning and quick reference. Abbreviations vary between hospitals, countries and specialties, and some are discouraged because they can be misread. Always write and interpret orders using your own institution’s approved abbreviation list, and check anything unclear with the prescriber or your local policy.