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Medical Abbreviations Starting With "M"
This page lists 363 medical abbreviations starting with "M", 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 G H I J K L N 0–9 O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
| Abbreviation | Full form | What it means | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| M protein | M protein (streptococcal surface protein) | Strep surface protein determining type and virulence | Infectious Disease Laboratory |
| M&M | morbidity and mortality conference | Case review meeting for complications and deaths | Nursing Surgery General Medical |
| M-CHAT | Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers | Autism screening questionnaire | Pediatrics Psychiatry |
| M-CHAT-R | Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers Revised | Toddler autism screen revision | Pediatrics Psychiatry |
| M-protein | monoclonal protein | Abnormal antibody protein produced by a single clone of plasma cells | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology |
| M-spike | monoclonal spike | Peak on protein electrophoresis showing an abnormal antibody protein | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology |
| MA | meta-analysis | Study combining results of multiple studies | General Medical |
| Ma2 | anti-Ma2 antibody (paraneoplastic) | Brainstem paraneoplastic antibody | Neurology Laboratory |
| mAb | monoclonal antibody | Lab-made antibody used as targeted therapy | Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology General Medical |
| MABC | medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve | Inner forearm skin nerve | Neurology |
| MAC | monitored anesthesia care | Sedation and monitoring during a procedure | Surgery |
| MAC | Mycobacterium avium complex | Group of bacteria that can infect lungs, mainly in weak immunity | Respiratory Infectious Disease |
| MAC prophylaxis | Mycobacterium avium complex prophylaxis | Preventive antibiotics in advanced HIV | Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MAC regimen | myeloablative conditioning regimen | Full-intensity transplant preparation | Hematology & Oncology |
| machine perfusion | machine perfusion (organ preservation) | Pumping preservation of donor organs | Surgery Renal & Nephrology |
| MACI | matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation | Lab-grown cartilage cell implant | Surgery Musculoskeletal |
| MACS | Manual Ability Classification System | Cerebral palsy hand-use level system | Pediatrics Neurology |
| MADRS | Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale | Clinician rating scale for depression severity | Psychiatry |
| MAE | moves all extremities (exam phrase) | Motor examination summary phrase | Neurology Nursing Emergency & Critical Care |
| Mag | magnesium sulfate (seizure) | Seizure prevention infusion in preeclampsia — obstetric | Obstetrics & Gynecology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| mag asthma | magnesium sulfate (asthma infusion) | Bronchodilator infusion for severe asthma | Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders |
| Mag toxicity | magnesium toxicity (obstetric) | Overdose signs of seizure-prevention magnesium | Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing Emergency & Critical Care |
| MAG3 | MAG3 renal scan (diuretic) | Nuclear kidney drainage study | Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology Radiology & Imaging |
| MAG3 | mercaptoacetyltriglycine scan | Nuclear scan imaging kidney drainage and function | Radiology & Imaging Renal & Nephrology |
| MAGEC | MAGEC rods (magnetic growing) | Magnetically lengthened spine rods | Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Surgery |
| magnet ingestion | magnet ingestion (multiple magnets) | Swallowed magnets attracting across bowel | Pediatrics Gastroenterology Emergency & Critical Care Surgery |
| MAHA | microangiopathic hemolytic anemia | Red cell fragmentation from damaged small vessels | Hematology & Oncology Emergency & Critical Care |
| MAID | mesna doxorubicin ifosfamide dacarbazine | Soft tissue sarcoma combination | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| mainstem | mainstem bronchus (anatomy) | First large airway into each lung | Respiratory |
| maintenance bundle | line maintenance bundle (care) | Routine line care practice set | Pediatrics Nursing Infectious Disease |
| Maisonneuve | Maisonneuve fracture (ankle) | High fibula fracture with ankle injury | Musculoskeletal Surgery |
| MALDI-TOF | matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight | Mass spectrometry method rapidly identifying microbes | Laboratory Infectious Disease |
| malignant MCA | malignant MCA syndrome (swelling) | Severe swelling after a large stroke | Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Surgery |
| malingering | malingering (documentation) | Faking illness for external gain — documentation | Psychiatry |
| mallet finger | mallet finger (injury) | Dropped fingertip from tendon injury — injury | Musculoskeletal Surgery |
| malocclusion | malocclusion (bite) | Misaligned bite | Pediatrics Musculoskeletal |
| malrotation | malrotation (diagnosis) | Abnormal bowel rotation — diagnosis | Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery Emergency & Critical Care |
| MAM nutrition | moderate acute malnutrition (diagnosis) | Moderate childhood undernutrition | Pediatrics |
| Mammo | mammogram | X-ray imaging of the breast | Radiology & Imaging |
| MAOI | monoamine oxidase inhibitor | Antidepressant class blocking an enzyme breaking down brain chemicals | Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry |
| MAP | mean arterial pressure | Average pressure in the arteries during one heartbeat cycle | Cardiology Vitals & Assessment |
| MAP | methotrexate doxorubicin cisplatin | Osteosarcoma chemotherapy combination | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders Musculoskeletal |
| mAPI | modified Asthma Predictive Index | Refined toddler asthma prediction tool | Pediatrics Respiratory |
| MAPSE | mitral annular plane systolic excursion | Echo measure of left heart function | Cardiology Radiology & Imaging |
| MAR | medication administration record | Chart recording medicines given to a patient | Nursing Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MAR check | medication administration record check | Verification against the medication record | Nursing Prescription & Medication Orders |
| marasmus | marasmus (severe wasting type) | Starvation without swelling malnutrition | Pediatrics |
| march fracture | march fracture (stress) | Metatarsal stress fracture of new walkers | Musculoskeletal |
| Marcus Gunn | Marcus Gunn pupil (RAPD eponym) | Alternate name for a relative afferent defect | Neurology |
| Marfan | Marfan syndrome (connective) | Tall stature connective tissue syndrome | Pediatrics Cardiology Musculoskeletal |
| Marsh | Marsh classification (celiac biopsy) | Bowel damage grading in celiac disease | Pediatrics Gastroenterology Laboratory |
| marsupialization | marsupialization (Bartholin procedure) | Creating a permanent opening for a Bartholin cyst | Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery |
| MART child | maintenance and reliever therapy (child) | Single inhaler strategy — pediatric applicability | Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MARV | Marburg virus | Filovirus related to Ebola | Infectious Disease Laboratory |
| MAS | meconium aspiration syndrome | Newborn breathing problems from inhaling stained amniotic fluid | Respiratory Pediatrics |
| MAS spasticity | Modified Ashworth Scale | Muscle spasticity grading scale | Neurology Musculoskeletal |
| MASC | Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children | Child anxiety self-report scale | Psychiatry Pediatrics |
| MASCC | Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer score | Low-risk score for febrile neutropenia | Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care |
| MASD | moisture-associated skin damage | Skin injury from prolonged moisture exposure | Nursing |
| MASLD | metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease | Fatty liver disease linked to metabolic conditions | Gastroenterology Endocrinology |
| mastitis | mastitis (lactation) | Breast infection while nursing — lactation | Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease Nursing |
| mastitis neonate | neonatal mastitis (infection) | Breast infection in a newborn | Pediatrics Infectious Disease |
| mastoidectomy | mastoidectomy (procedure) | Removing infected mastoid bone | Surgery Infectious Disease |
| MAT | medication-assisted treatment | Medicines combined with support to treat addiction | Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry |
| MAT | multifocal atrial tachycardia | Fast upper-chamber rhythm with beats from several spots | Cardiology |
| MBC | minimum bactericidal concentration | Lowest antibiotic level that kills a bacterium | Laboratory Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MCA | middle cerebral artery | Artery supplying much of the side of the brain | Neurology |
| MCA anatomy | middle cerebral artery (anatomy) | Artery feeding the side of the brain | Neurology |
| MCA Doppler | middle cerebral artery Doppler (fetal) | Fetal brain flow study for anemia and growth | Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging |
| MCA PSV | middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity | Doppler measure detecting fetal anemia | Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging |
| MCA-PSV | middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity | Doppler measure screening for fetal anemia | Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging |
| MCAD | medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency | Fat-burning metabolic disorder causing low sugar crashes | Pediatrics Laboratory Endocrinology |
| MCD | minimal change disease | Kidney condition causing heavy protein in urine, often in children | Renal & Nephrology Pediatrics |
| MCD child | minimal change disease (childhood) | Commonest childhood nephrotic cause | Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology |
| MCDA | monochorionic diamniotic (twins) | Identical twins sharing a placenta, separate sacs | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| McDonald | McDonald criteria (MS diagnosis) | Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis | Neurology |
| mcg | microgram | Unit of weight, one millionth of a gram | Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory |
| MCH | mean corpuscular hemoglobin | Average hemoglobin amount in one red cell | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology |
| MCHC | mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration | Average hemoglobin concentration in red cells | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology |
| MCI | mass casualty incident | Event overwhelming emergency resources with many casualties | Emergency & Critical Care |
| MCI | mild cognitive impairment | Noticeable thinking decline beyond normal ageing | Neurology Psychiatry |
| MCI subtypes | mild cognitive impairment (amnestic/non-amnestic) | Memory-type versus other-type MCI | Neurology Psychiatry |
| MCL | medial collateral ligament | Ligament supporting the inner knee | Musculoskeletal |
| MCMA | monochorionic monoamniotic (twins) | Twins sharing placenta and sac | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| MCMI | Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory | Personality and syndrome inventory | Psychiatry |
| MCOT | mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry | Continuously transmitted heart monitoring | Cardiology |
| MCP | metacarpophalangeal joint | Knuckle joint between hand and finger bones | Musculoskeletal |
| mcr-1 | mobilized colistin resistance 1 | Plasmid gene conferring colistin resistance | Laboratory Infectious Disease |
| MCV | mean corpuscular volume | Average size of a red blood cell | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology |
| MCV4 | meningococcal conjugate vaccine | Vaccine protecting against certain meningococcal infections | Pediatrics Infectious Disease |
| MD | maintenance dose (concept) | Regular dose keeping drug levels steady | Prescription & Medication Orders General Medical |
| MD | medical doctor | Doctor of medicine qualification | General Medical |
| MDAS | Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale | Delirium severity rating scale | Psychiatry Neurology |
| MDCT | multidetector computed tomography | Modern multi-row CT scanning | Radiology & Imaging |
| MDD | major depressive disorder | Depression with persistent low mood and loss of interest | Psychiatry |
| MDE | major depressive episode | Period of major depression | Psychiatry |
| MDI | metered-dose inhaler | Handheld inhaler delivering measured puffs | Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MDI | multiple daily injections | Several insulin injections spread across the day | Endocrinology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MDI spacer | spacer (inhaler chamber) | Holding chamber improving inhaler delivery | Nursing Respiratory Pediatrics |
| MDQ | Mood Disorder Questionnaire | Bipolar screening questionnaire | Psychiatry |
| MDR-TB | multidrug-resistant tuberculosis | TB that does not respond to the two main TB medicines | Respiratory Infectious Disease |
| MDRD | Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation | Older kidney function estimation equation | Renal & Nephrology Laboratory |
| MDRO | multidrug-resistant organism | Germ resistant to several antimicrobial medicines | Infectious Disease |
| MDRO precautions | multidrug-resistant organism precautions | Extra precautions for resistant bacteria | Nursing Infectious Disease |
| MDS | myelodysplastic syndrome | Marrow disorder producing abnormal blood cells | Hematology & Oncology |
| MDS-UPDRS | MDS Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (score) | Revised Parkinson scale — score | Neurology |
| ME/CFS | myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome | Long-term illness with profound fatigue worsened by exertion | Musculoskeletal General Medical |
| meal support | meal support (eating disorder care) | Supervised meals and post-meal observation | Psychiatry Pediatrics Nursing |
| MEC | mitoxantrone etoposide cytarabine | Salvage leukemia chemotherapy combination | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| mecA | mecA gene | Gene conferring methicillin resistance in staph | Laboratory Infectious Disease |
| mech soft | mechanical soft diet | Minced and moist texture diet for chewing problems | Nursing |
| Meckel scan | Meckel diverticulum scintigraphy | Nuclear scan for a Meckel diverticulum | Radiology & Imaging Gastroenterology Pediatrics |
| meconium | meconium (first stool) | Baby's first dark stool | Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| meconium ileus | meconium ileus (diagnosis) | Thick stool blocking a newborn's bowel — diagnosis | Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery Respiratory |
| meconium plug | meconium plug syndrome (diagnosis) | Stool plug blocking a newborn's colon | Pediatrics Gastroenterology |
| med rec | medication reconciliation (shorthand) | List comparison process shorthand | Prescription & Medication Orders Nursing |
| median n | median nerve (anatomy) | Main nerve of the front forearm and hand | Neurology Musculoskeletal |
| mediastinoscopy | mediastinoscopy (procedure) | Scope examination behind the breastbone | Respiratory Surgery Hematology & Oncology |
| mediastinum anatomy | mediastinum (anatomy) | Central chest compartment — anatomy | Respiratory Cardiology |
| medical home | medical home (care model) | Coordinated family-centered primary care model | Pediatrics General Medical Nursing |
| medical play | medical play (preparation) | Play-based procedure preparation for children | Pediatrics Nursing |
| medulla anatomy | medulla oblongata (anatomy) | Lowest brainstem controlling breathing and heart rate | Neurology |
| medulloblastoma | medulloblastoma (diagnosis) | Commonest malignant child brain tumor | Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Neurology Surgery |
| MEL | melphalan (chart shorthand) | Alkylating drug used in myeloma and conditioning | Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology |
| melancholic | melancholic features (specifier) | Depression specifier with loss of pleasure and early waking | Psychiatry |
| MELD | Model for End-Stage Liver Disease | Liver severity score used in transplant allocation | Gastroenterology Laboratory |
| MELD 3.0 | Model for End-Stage Liver Disease 3.0 | Updated liver allocation score | Gastroenterology |
| MELD-Na | Model for End-Stage Liver Disease with sodium | Liver severity score including sodium | Gastroenterology Laboratory |
| MEM | meropenem | Carbapenem antibiotic medicine | Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease |
| MEN | multiple endocrine neoplasia | Inherited condition causing tumours in hormone glands | Endocrinology Hematology & Oncology |
| MEN1 | multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 | Inherited tumour condition affecting parathyroid, pancreas and pituitary | Endocrinology |
| MEN2 | multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 | Inherited tumour condition affecting thyroid and adrenals | Endocrinology |
| MenACWY | meningococcal ACWY vaccine | Vaccine against four meningococcal groups | Infectious Disease Pediatrics |
| menarche | menarche (first period term) | First menstrual period milestone | Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| MenB | meningococcal B vaccine | Serogroup B meningitis vaccine | Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders |
| Meniere | Meniere disease (diagnosis) | Inner ear disorder with vertigo and ringing — diagnosis | Neurology |
| meniscectomy | partial meniscectomy (arthroscopic) | Trimming torn knee cartilage | Surgery Musculoskeletal |
| meniscus repair | meniscus repair (arthroscopic) | Stitching torn knee cartilage | Surgery Musculoskeletal |
| menorrhagia | menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding, older term) | Heavy periods — older term | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| MEP | motor evoked potential | Motor pathway test with magnetic stimulation | Neurology |
| MERS | Middle East respiratory syndrome | Serious viral lung illness caused by a coronavirus | Respiratory Infectious Disease |
| MERS-CoV | Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus | Coronavirus causing severe respiratory illness | Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory |
| mesentery anatomy | mesentery (anatomy) | Fan of tissue suspending the bowel — anatomy | Gastroenterology Surgery |
| mesh neb | vibrating mesh nebulizer | Quiet electronic aerosol device | Respiratory Nursing |
| mesh repair | mesh hernia repair | Hernia fixed with a prosthetic mesh | Surgery |
| metaphyseal lesion | classic metaphyseal lesion (abuse) | Corner fracture strongly linked to inflicted injury | Pediatrics Radiology & Imaging Emergency & Critical Care |
| metatarsus adductus | metatarsus adductus (foot) | Curved inward forefoot of babies | Pediatrics Musculoskeletal |
| methemoglobin | methemoglobinemia (toxicology) | Oxidized blood unable to carry oxygen — toxicology | Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders |
| Metro | metronidazole | Antibiotic and antiprotozoal medicine | Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease Gastroenterology |
| metroplasty | metroplasty (uterus reshaping) | Surgery correcting a womb shape problem | Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery |
| metrorrhagia | metrorrhagia (bleeding between periods) | Bleeding outside period times — term | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| MetS | metabolic syndrome | Cluster of conditions raising heart and diabetes risk | Endocrinology Cardiology |
| MeVO | medium vessel occlusion (stroke) | Medium artery stroke blockage | Neurology Radiology & Imaging |
| MEWS | Modified Early Warning Score | Score flagging deteriorating ward patients | Emergency & Critical Care Vitals & Assessment Nursing |
| MFG | micafungin (chart shorthand) | Echinocandin antifungal chart shorthand | Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease |
| MFI | mean fluorescence intensity (antibody strength) | Antibody amount measure in bead testing | Renal & Nephrology Laboratory |
| MFS | Miller Fisher syndrome | Eye-movement variant of Guillain-Barré | Neurology |
| Mg | magnesium | Mineral electrolyte measured in blood | Laboratory |
| mg | milligram | Unit of weight, one thousandth of a gram | Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory |
| MG | myasthenia gravis | Autoimmune disease causing fluctuating muscle weakness | Neurology |
| MG-ADL | Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (score) | Symptom score — score | Neurology |
| MGFA | Myasthenia Gravis Foundation classification | Myasthenia severity classification | Neurology |
| MgSO4 ⚠ Error-prone | magnesium sulfate | Magnesium salt used in several clinical settings, easily confused | Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory |
| MH | macular hole | Full-thickness defect at the central retina | General Medical |
| MH | malignant hyperthermia (crisis) | Anesthetic-triggered overheating crisis — crisis | Emergency & Critical Care Surgery Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MHD | maintenance hemodialysis (chronic) | Ongoing outpatient dialysis | Renal & Nephrology |
| MHL | mixed hearing loss | Combined conductive and sensorineural loss | General Medical |
| MHT | menopausal hormone therapy | Hormones treating menopause symptoms | Prescription & Medication Orders Obstetrics & Gynecology Endocrinology |
| MI | motivational interviewing | Counselling style strengthening a person's own motivation to change | Psychiatry |
| MI | myocardial infarction | Heart attack; death of heart muscle from blocked blood flow | Cardiology |
| Miami J | Miami J collar (brand) | Rigid neck collar brand | Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care |
| MIBG | metaiodobenzylguanidine scan | Nuclear scan used for certain hormone tumours | Radiology & Imaging Endocrinology Hematology & Oncology |
| MIC | minimum inhibitory concentration | Lowest drug concentration that stops a germ growing in the lab | Infectious Disease Laboratory |
| microdiscectomy | microdiscectomy (microscope) | Small-incision disc removal with a microscope | Surgery Neurology |
| microfracture | microfracture (cartilage procedure) | Drilling small holes stimulating cartilage repair | Surgery Musculoskeletal |
| micrognathia | micrognathia (jaw size) | Small jaw | Pediatrics Surgery |
| microvascular inflammation | microvascular inflammation (graft finding) | Small vessel graft inflammation of antibody rejection | Renal & Nephrology Laboratory |
| micturition syncope | micturition syncope (situational) | Fainting during urination | Cardiology Neurology |
| MIDAS | Migraine Disability Assessment | Migraine impact questionnaire | Neurology |
| midbrain | midbrain (anatomy) | Top brainstem segment | Neurology |
| midurethral sling | midurethral sling (procedure) | Tape supporting the urine tube — procedure | Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery Renal & Nephrology |
| migraine aura | migraine with aura (type) | Migraine with preceding visual symptoms — type | Neurology |
| MIGS | minimally invasive glaucoma surgery | Small-device glaucoma procedures | Surgery |
| milk anemia | milk anemia (excess cow's milk) | Iron deficiency from excessive milk intake | Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology |
| milk bank | human milk bank (facility) | Screening and pasteurizing donor milk facility | Pediatrics Nursing |
| milk blister | milk bleb (nipple pore) | White spot blocking a nipple pore | Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing |
| milk ladder | milk ladder (reintroduction steps) | Gradual milk reintroduction steps | Pediatrics Gastroenterology |
| milk stools | milk stools (breastfed pattern) | Yellow seedy stools of breastfed babies | Pediatrics Nursing |
| milk storage | milk storage guidelines (handling) | Safe pumped milk times and temperatures | Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing Pediatrics |
| milk transfer | milk transfer (feeding effectiveness) | How well milk moves to the baby | Pediatrics Nursing |
| Milwaukee brace | Milwaukee brace (scoliosis) | Neck-extending scoliosis brace | Pediatrics Musculoskeletal |
| MIN | minocycline (chart shorthand) | Tetracycline antibiotic chart shorthand | Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease |
| MINE | mesna ifosfamide mitoxantrone etoposide | Salvage lymphoma chemotherapy combination | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| Minerva | Minerva brace (cervical) | Rigid neck and trunk brace | Musculoskeletal Surgery |
| Mini-Cog | Mini-Cog (screen) | Three-item recall plus clock screen — screening | Neurology Psychiatry |
| minimal handling | minimal handling (preterm care) | Limiting touches for fragile preterm babies | Pediatrics Nursing |
| MinIP | minimum intensity projection | 3D reconstruction showing darkest structures, used for airways | Radiology & Imaging Respiratory |
| MINOCA | myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries | Heart attack without a blocked artery found | Cardiology |
| miosis | miosis (pupil constriction) | Abnormally small pupils | Neurology |
| MIP | maximum intensity projection | 3D reconstruction showing brightest structures | Radiology & Imaging |
| MIPI | Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index | Mantle cell lymphoma risk score | Hematology & Oncology |
| MIS TLIF | minimally invasive TLIF | Tube-based small-incision back fusion | Surgery Musculoskeletal |
| MIS-C | multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (diagnosis) | Post-COVID inflammatory syndrome — diagnosis | Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease Cardiology |
| missed AB | missed abortion (term) | Fetal death without expulsion | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| MIST | minimally invasive surfactant therapy | Alternate name for thin-catheter surfactant | Pediatrics Respiratory |
| MiToS | Milano-Torino staging (ALS) | ALS milestone staging system | Neurology |
| mitt restraints | mitten restraints | Padded hand covers preventing tube pulling | Nursing Emergency & Critical Care |
| mixed delirium | mixed delirium (subtype) | Alternating quiet and agitated delirium | Neurology Psychiatry |
| mixed features | mixed features (specifier) | Manic and depressive symptoms together specifier | Psychiatry |
| mL | milliliter | Unit of volume, one thousandth of a liter | Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory |
| MLH1 | MutL homolog 1 | Lynch syndrome DNA repair gene | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology |
| MLST | multilocus sequence typing | Gene-based bacterial strain typing | Laboratory Infectious Disease |
| MLT | medical laboratory technician | Laboratory professional performing tests | Laboratory |
| MM | malignant melanoma | Serious type of skin cancer | Hematology & Oncology |
| mm | millimeter | Unit of length, one thousandth of a meter | General Medical |
| MM | multiple myeloma | Cancer of plasma cells in bone marrow | Hematology & Oncology |
| MMA | maxillomandibular advancement (sleep) | Jaw advancement surgery for sleep apnea | Surgery Respiratory |
| MMA | methylmalonic acid | Test confirming vitamin B12 deficiency | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Neurology |
| MMA surgery | maxillomandibular advancement | Jaw surgery advancing both jaws for sleep apnea | General Medical Surgery Respiratory |
| MMC | myelomeningocele | Spina bifida where cord tissue protrudes through the back | Neurology Pediatrics |
| MME | morphine milligram equivalents | Standardised measure comparing opioid strengths | Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MMF | mycophenolate mofetil | Immune-suppressing medicine used after transplants | Prescription & Medication Orders Renal & Nephrology |
| mmHg | millimeters of mercury | Unit used to measure blood pressure | Vitals & Assessment Laboratory |
| MMPI | Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory | Comprehensive personality assessment | Psychiatry |
| MMPI-3 | Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 | Current edition personality inventory | Psychiatry |
| MMR | measles, mumps and rubella vaccine | Combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella | Infectious Disease Pediatrics |
| MMR | mismatch repair | DNA repair system tested in some cancers | Hematology & Oncology Laboratory |
| mMRC | modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale | Scale grading breathlessness from 0 to 4 | Respiratory |
| MMRD | mismatched related donor | Partly matched family transplant donor | Hematology & Oncology |
| MMRV | measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine | Vaccine protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox | Pediatrics Infectious Disease |
| MMSE | Mini-Mental State Examination | Bedside test of memory and thinking | Neurology Psychiatry Vitals & Assessment |
| MMT | manual muscle testing | Grading of muscle strength by hand | Musculoskeletal Vitals & Assessment |
| MMV | mandatory minute ventilation (mode) | Mode guaranteeing a minute volume | Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care |
| MN | membranous nephropathy | Kidney filter disease causing protein loss in urine | Renal & Nephrology |
| MN | midnight (charting shorthand) | Charting abbreviation for midnight | Nursing General Medical |
| mNGS | metagenomic next-generation sequencing | Unbiased sequencing identifying pathogens from a sample | Laboratory Infectious Disease |
| MO | mesial-occlusal (dental) | Two-surface tooth filling shorthand | General Medical |
| mo-di | mo-di twins (shorthand) | Monochorionic diamniotic twins shorthand | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| mo-mo | mo-mo twins (shorthand) | Monochorionic monoamniotic twins shorthand | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| MOANS | MOANS (difficult mask screen) | Difficult mask ventilation prediction mnemonic | Emergency & Critical Care Surgery |
| MoCA | Montreal Cognitive Assessment | Screening test of memory and thinking | Neurology Psychiatry |
| MoCA-B | MoCA Basic (low literacy version) | Cognitive screen for low education | Neurology Psychiatry |
| MOD | mesial-occlusal-distal (dental) | Cavity or filling spanning three tooth surfaces | General Medical |
| MODS | multiple organ dysfunction syndrome | Failure of several organs in critical illness | Emergency & Critical Care |
| MODY | maturity-onset diabetes of the young | Inherited single-gene forms of diabetes | Endocrinology Pediatrics |
| MOE | malignant otitis externa | Invasive skull-base ear infection in diabetes | General Medical Infectious Disease Endocrinology Emergency & Critical Care |
| MOG | myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody | Antibody of MOG-associated disease | Neurology Laboratory |
| MOGAD | MOG antibody-associated disease | Demyelinating disease driven by MOG antibodies | Neurology |
| MOGAD | myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease | Immune disease attacking nerve coverings in brain and cord | Neurology |
| MOH | medication overuse headache | Headache worsened by frequent use of pain medicines | Neurology |
| Mohs | Mohs micrographic surgery | Layer-by-layer skin cancer removal with margin checks | Surgery Hematology & Oncology |
| MOI | mechanism of injury | How an injury happened | Emergency & Critical Care |
| molluscum | molluscum contagiosum (lesion) | Pearly wart-like spots of childhood | Pediatrics Infectious Disease |
| MOLST | Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment | New York version of the portable treatment order form | Nursing General Medical |
| MoM | multiples of the median | Screening result expressed relative to the typical value | Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| Mongolian spot | dermal melanocytosis (Mongolian spot) | Blue-grey birthmark of the lower back | Pediatrics |
| Mono | monocytes | White cells that clear debris and germs | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology |
| Monteggia | Monteggia fracture-dislocation | Forearm fracture with elbow dislocation | Musculoskeletal Surgery |
| mood MSE | mood (mental status element) | Patient-reported emotional state | Psychiatry |
| MOPP | mechlorethamine vincristine procarbazine prednisone | Historical Hodgkin lymphoma regimen | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| Morgagni | Morgagni hernia (anterior) | Front diaphragm hernia | Pediatrics Surgery |
| Moro | Moro reflex (startle) | Startle reflex of newborns | Pediatrics Neurology |
| MOUD | medications for opioid use disorder | Medicines treating opioid dependence | Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry |
| MP | melphalan prednisone | Older myeloma treatment combination | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MP | membrane peel (retinal) | Removing scar tissue from the retinal surface | Surgery |
| mPAP | mean pulmonary artery pressure | Average pressure in the artery to the lungs | Cardiology Respiratory |
| MPC | macular photocoagulation | Laser treatment at the macula | General Medical Surgery |
| MPE | malignant pleural effusion | Fluid around the lung caused by cancer | Respiratory Hematology & Oncology |
| MPFL recon | medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction | Rebuilding the kneecap-stabilizing ligament | Surgery Musculoskeletal |
| MPI | myocardial perfusion imaging | Stress imaging of heart blood flow | Radiology & Imaging Cardiology |
| MPM | Mortality Probability Model | ICU outcome prediction model | Emergency & Critical Care |
| MPO | myeloperoxidase antibody | Antibody marker in small-vessel vasculitis | Laboratory Renal & Nephrology |
| MPQ | McGill Pain Questionnaire | Detailed pain quality questionnaire | Vitals & Assessment General Medical |
| MPR | multiplanar reconstruction | Reformatted images in other planes | Radiology & Imaging |
| MPRAGE | magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo | 3D brain MRI sequence for anatomy | Radiology & Imaging Neurology |
| MPS | mucopolysaccharidoses (group) | Sugar-chain storage disorder family | Pediatrics Laboratory |
| MPV | mean platelet volume | Average size of platelets in blood | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology |
| MR | mitral regurgitation | Leaking of the mitral valve back into the upper chamber | Cardiology |
| MR. SOPA | MR. SOPA (ventilation corrective steps) | Newborn ventilation troubleshooting mnemonic | Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care |
| MRA | magnetic resonance angiography | MRI scan used to image blood vessels | Cardiology Radiology & Imaging |
| MRC grade | Medical Research Council grade | Zero-to-five muscle strength grading | Musculoskeletal Neurology |
| MRCP | magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography | MRI scan of bile and pancreatic ducts | Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging |
| MRD | minimal residual disease | Tiny amounts of cancer remaining after treatment | Hematology & Oncology |
| MRD donor | matched related donor | Fully matched family transplant donor | Hematology & Oncology |
| MRE | magnetic resonance elastography | MRI measuring tissue stiffness, often liver | Radiology & Imaging Gastroenterology |
| mRECIST | modified RECIST | Response criteria for liver cancer treatment | Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging |
| MRgFUS | MRI-guided focused ultrasound (fibroid) | Focused sound waves destroying fibroids | Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging |
| MRI | magnetic resonance imaging | Imaging using magnets and radio waves, no X-rays | Radiology & Imaging |
| MRKH | Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome | Birth condition where the uterus and upper vagina are underdeveloped | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| mRNA | messenger ribonucleic acid | RNA copy carrying instructions to make a protein | Laboratory General Medical |
| MRND | modified radical neck dissection | Node removal sparing some neck structures | Surgery Hematology & Oncology |
| mRS | modified Rankin Scale | Score of disability after stroke | Neurology |
| MRS | spectroscopy (magnetic resonance) | MRI method measuring tissue chemistry peaks | Radiology & Imaging Neurology |
| MRSA | methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus | Staph bacteria resistant to common antibiotics | Laboratory Infectious Disease |
| MRSE | methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis | Resistant skin staph infecting lines and devices | Infectious Disease Laboratory |
| MRU | magnetic resonance urography | MRI of the urinary tract | Radiology & Imaging Renal & Nephrology |
| MRV | magnetic resonance venography | MRI imaging of veins | Radiology & Imaging |
| MS ⚠ Error-prone | mitral stenosis | Narrowing of the valve between the left upper and lower chambers | Cardiology |
| MS ⚠ Error-prone | morphine sulfate | Strong opioid pain medicine, abbreviation easily confused | Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MS ⚠ Error-prone | multiple sclerosis | Disease where the immune system damages nerve coverings in the brain and cord | Neurology |
| MS/MS | tandem mass spectrometry | Lab technique used in newborn screening | Laboratory Pediatrics |
| MSA | multiple system atrophy | Progressive brain disease affecting movement and automatic functions | Neurology |
| MSAFP | maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein | Blood test in pregnancy measuring a protein made by the baby | Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory |
| MSBOS | maximum surgical blood order schedule | Guide to how much blood to order for each operation | Surgery Laboratory Hematology & Oncology |
| MSE | mental state examination | Structured assessment of appearance, mood, thought and cognition | Psychiatry |
| MSFC | Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite | Timed walking, hand and thinking MS measure | Neurology |
| MSH2 | MutS homolog 2 | Lynch syndrome DNA repair gene | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology |
| MSH6 | MutS homolog 6 | Lynch syndrome DNA repair gene | Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology |
| MSI | microsatellite instability | DNA repair fault found in some cancers | Hematology & Oncology Laboratory |
| MSICS | manual small incision cataract surgery | Low-cost manual cataract technique | General Medical Surgery |
| MSK | musculoskeletal | Relating to the muscles, bones and joints together | Musculoskeletal |
| MSLT | multiple sleep latency test | Daytime nap test measuring how fast someone falls asleep | Respiratory Neurology |
| MSO4 ⚠ Error-prone | morphine sulfate | Strong opioid pain medicine, abbreviation easily confused | Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MSSA | methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus | Staph bacteria treatable with standard antibiotics | Infectious Disease Laboratory |
| MSU | midstream urine | Urine sample collected mid-flow for testing | Renal & Nephrology Laboratory |
| MSU | monosodium urate | Crystal type that deposits in joints in gout | Musculoskeletal Laboratory |
| MSUD | maple syrup urine disease | Inherited disorder of amino acid breakdown | Pediatrics Laboratory |
| MT | medical technologist | Laboratory professional performing tests | Laboratory |
| MTB | Mycobacterium tuberculosis | The bacterium that causes tuberculosis | Respiratory Infectious Disease |
| mTBI | mild traumatic brain injury | A concussion, the mildest form of brain injury | Neurology |
| MTD | maximum tolerated dose | Highest dose of a treatment with acceptable side effects | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MTHFR | methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase | Enzyme and gene involved in folate processing | Laboratory |
| mTICI | modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction | Blood-flow restoration grade after thrombectomy | Neurology Radiology & Imaging |
| MTOP | medical termination of pregnancy | Medicine-based ending of pregnancy | Obstetrics & Gynecology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| mTOR | mTOR inhibitor (class) | Sirolimus-family anti-rejection class | Renal & Nephrology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| mTORi | mTOR inhibitor | Drug class including sirolimus and everolimus | Prescription & Medication Orders Renal & Nephrology Hematology & Oncology |
| MTP | metatarsophalangeal joint | Joint between the foot and toe bones | Musculoskeletal |
| MTV | metabolic tumor volume | Total active tumor volume on PET | Radiology & Imaging Hematology & Oncology |
| MTW | multiple-trigger wheeze (pattern) | Wheeze with many triggers pattern | Pediatrics Respiratory |
| MTX | methotrexate | Medicine suppressing the immune system and treating cancer | Prescription & Medication Orders Musculoskeletal Hematology & Oncology |
| MTZ | metronidazole (chart shorthand) | Anaerobic and protozoal antibiotic shorthand | Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease Gastroenterology |
| MUA | manipulation under anesthesia | Moving a stiff joint while the patient is asleep | Musculoskeletal Surgery |
| MUAC | mid-upper arm circumference (nutrition screen) | Arm tape screening for malnutrition | Pediatrics Nursing |
| MUD | matched unrelated donor | Transplant donor found through a registry | Hematology & Oncology |
| MUDPILES | MUDPILES (anion gap causes) | Classic causes mnemonic for a high gap | Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Renal & Nephrology |
| MUGA | multiple gated acquisition scan | Nuclear scan measuring heart pumping function | Radiology & Imaging Cardiology |
| Munchausen | Munchausen syndrome (factitious) | Classic name for self-imposed factitious illness | Psychiatry |
| murmur grades | murmur grading (1-6 scale) | Loudness scale for heart murmurs | Pediatrics Cardiology Nursing |
| muscle dysmorphia | muscle dysmorphia (bigorexia) | Belief of being too small in bodybuilding | Psychiatry |
| MuSK | muscle-specific kinase antibody | Second myasthenia antibody type | Neurology Laboratory |
| MUST | Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool | Score screening for malnutrition risk | Nursing Gastroenterology |
| MV | mechanical ventilation | Breathing support provided by a ventilator machine | Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care |
| MVA | motor vehicle accident | Road traffic collision involving a vehicle | Emergency & Critical Care |
| MVA procedure | manual vacuum aspiration (procedure) | Hand suction emptying of the womb — procedure | Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery |
| MVAC | methotrexate vinblastine doxorubicin cisplatin | Bladder cancer chemotherapy combination | Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders |
| MVD | microvascular decompression | Relieving a nerve compressed by a blood vessel | Surgery Neurology |
| MVP | mitral valve prolapse | Mitral valve leaflets bulging back into the upper chamber | Cardiology |
| MVP fluid | maximum vertical pocket (fluid) | Deepest fluid pocket measurement | Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging |
| MVR | mitral valve replacement | Surgery to replace the mitral valve | Cardiology Surgery |
| MVU | Montevideo units | Calculated contraction strength measure | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| MVV | maximal voluntary ventilation | Most air a person can breathe in and out in a short effort | Respiratory |
| MWA | microwave ablation | Microwave heat treatment destroying tumors | Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging Surgery |
| MWT | maintenance of wakefulness test | Test of ability to stay awake | Neurology Laboratory |
| MXF | moxifloxacin (chart shorthand) | Fluoroquinolone antibiotic chart shorthand | Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease |
| mydriasis | mydriasis (pupil dilation) | Abnormally large pupils | Neurology |
| myoclonic seizure | myoclonic seizure (type) | Brief jerk seizure type | Neurology |
| myoclonus | myoclonus (finding) | Brief shock-like jerks — finding | Neurology |
| myolysis | myolysis (fibroid destruction) | Energy destruction of fibroids | Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery |
| myopectineal | myopectineal orifice (anatomy) | Groin opening framework for all groin hernias | Surgery |
| myopia | myopia (nearsightedness) | Distance blur | Pediatrics General Medical |
| myotonia | myotonia (finding) | Delayed muscle relaxation after contraction | Neurology |
| myringoplasty | myringoplasty (eardrum patch) | Repair of an eardrum hole | Surgery |
| myxedema | myxedema coma (crisis) | Extreme underactive thyroid emergency — crisis | Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology |
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.