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                                   Last Update - May 17, 2008 

 

This site has been developed with the intention of helping medical transcriptionists. When I was new to the profession, I always wished I could go to a site that offered word lists on different worktypes I'd encounter. Having worked as a medical transcriptionist a number of years now, I feel I can now give back to the MT community.  So, this is my effort at sharing some of the knowledge I've gained as an MT over the years.  I say "some of the knowledge" because you never truly learn "everything" in this profession.  You come across new terms all the time.

 

I've always had the habit of writing down useful words I'd encounter during the course of my work.  These words are the most common ones (BUT NOT ALL) you would come across during the course of a doctor's dictation.  I've organized them in alphabetical order for easy reference.

 

Also MTs would find the Google Custom Search Engine (bottom of the page) quite useful, as I've included MT sites in the search engine. Consequently, search results would mostly be medical transcription focused, but would also show all other results that one would normally see in a Google search.  I do hope all medical transcriptionists find this site useful - that's the purpose behind this site.  Well, happy transcribing! 

                               

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PHYSICAL EXAMINATION TERMS/PHRASES (SECTION WISE):

GENERAL / GENERAL APPEARANCE:

A&O x3

agitated

ambulatory

Apgar score 

blank, staring, expressionless face

cachectic

Cheyne-Stokes breathing

chronological age (younger/older than chronological age)

comatose

conscious

cushingoid

depleted nutritionally

diaphoretic

disheveled

elderly, frail

engages with the examiner without difficulty

engaging appropriately

insight to current problem

language disturbance

intubated and sedated

lucid and follows commands

lying in semi-Fowler position

malaise

mask facies

no acute distress

obtunded

orthostatic changes

postanesthesia drowsiness

slurred speech

The patient appears fatigued.

The patient has slurred speech and abruptness of speech.

The patient is a cachectic male/female.

The patient is a pleasant, cooperative, overweight male/female.

The patient is a well-built elderly/young/middle-aged male/female.

The patient is a well-developed, well-nourished male/female.

The patient is alert, awake, and oriented.

The patient is ill appearing.

The patient is in no acute distress, resting comfortably in bed.

The patient is intubated.

The patient is lethargic, confused.

The patient is malnourished.

The patient is moaning and groaning.

The patient is nontoxic, calm, conversant

The patient is responsive to commands.  He is following commands verbally.

The patient is lying on a gurney in the emergency room

undue distress

vocabulary

WDWN (well-developed, well-nourished)

wearing glasses

well hydrated

 

VITAL SIGNS: 

blood pressure

BMI (body mass index).

height

O2 saturation

pulse/heart rate

respirations or respiratory rate

T-max

weight

 

HEENT:  HEAD, EYES, EARS, NOSE, THROAT

agnathia

 

allergic salute

 

alopecia

 

allergic shiners

 

alopecia noted

 

anicteric sclerae

 

anisocoria

 

anterior tonsillar pillars are red

 

aphthae

 

aphthous ulcers

 

arcus senilis

 

AV nicking

 

Battle's sign

 

best-corrected visual acuity

 

bifid

 

bifid uvula

 

bifocals (wears bifocals)

 

boggy turbinates

 

buccal mucosa

 

bulbar conjunctivae

 

cataracts

 

cleft palate

 

cobblestoning

 

conjunctivae pink

 

conjunctivitis

 

cornea clear/cloudy

 

corneal reflex intact

 

Cowden disease

 

crowded oropharynx

 

Dennie-Morgan lines /Dennie-Morgan fold

 

dental caries

 

dental hygiene

 

dentition

 

dentures

 

deviation of mouth

 

disk margins well-delineated

 

disks sharp

 

dysconjugate gaze

 

ears have mild cerumen or no cerumen

 

edentulous

 

effusion

 

elongation of soft palate

 

endotracheal tube

 

enucleated

 

EOMI

 

EOMS full.  (EOMS can mean either extraocular movements or extraocular muscles)

 

ET (endotracheal) tube in place

 

external auditory canal

 

extraocular movements intact

 

extraocular muscles intact

 

facial droop

 

facial sensation is intact

 

flattening of the nasolabial fold

 

floor of mouth is nontender

 

fontanel (infant exam)

 

funduscopic exam

 

gag reflex

 

gingiva

 

gingival hyperplasia

 

glaucoma

 

good cone of light

 

Guerin fracture

 

hairy leukoplakia

 

halitosis

 

hard palate / soft palate

 

has pterygium on the eye

 

head trauma

 

helix of ear is tender to touch

 

homonymous hemianopsia

 

hypopharynx and larynx are normal

 

impacted molars

 

isocoria or isocoric

 

Le Fort fracture

 

Le Fort I fracture

 

Le Fort II fracture

 

Le Fort III fracture

 

lenticular opacification

 

leonine facies

 

Ludwig angina

 

macrocephaly / microcephaly

 

macular degeneration

 

Mallampati grade (pharynx is Mallampati grade 3)

 

mandibular hypoplasia

 

mastoid air cell tenderness

 

maxillary, ethmoid, frontal

 

micrognathia

 

midface and mandible are stable

 

moist mucous membranes

 

mucosa is boggy

 

mucosal pallor

 

mucositis

 

myringotomy tubes

 

nares, patent

 

nasal bridge

 

nasal flaring

 

nasal mucosa edematous or nonedematous

 

nasal passages are crowded

 

nasal prongs

 

nasolabial fold flattening

 

nasopharyngeal trumpet

 

NC/AT

 

NG tube or nasogastric tube

 

no epistaxis or epistaxis seen

 

no exudates, plaques or lesions

 

no facial lines

 

no field cut to gross confrontation

 

no hemotympanum

 

no papilledema, AV nicking, hemorrhages or exudates noted

 

no scleral icterus

 

no traction on the pinna

 

normocephalic and atraumatic

 

OP (oropharynx) clear

 

oral exam shows slight crowding

 

orbital, periorbital

 

oropharynx is clear.

 

oropharynx is noninjected / oropharynx is injected

 

palatal movements diminished

 

periodontal disease

 

PERRL

 

PERRLA

 

pharyngeal hyperemia

 

pharynx is crowded

 

pharynx pink and moist

 

phonation problems

 

Pierre Robin syndrome

 

pinna

 

plethoric facies

 

poor light reflex

 

posterior pharynx without injection

 

pre or postauricular nodes

 

puffing of eyelids

 

punctate exudates on tonsils

 

pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation

 

raccoon eyes

 

rapid eye movements (REM)

 

red reflex

 

Rinne test 

 

sclerae and conjunctivae are normal

 

septal deviation

 

sinuses are nontender to percussion

 

sinuses

 

slit-lamp examination

 

sluggish pupils

 

sore throat

 

strabismus

 

symmetrical vocal cord motion

 

temporomandibular joint

 

throat is clear

 

thrush

 

TMs shiny and clear

 

TM has a slight bulge and diffusion of cone of light

 

tongue congestion

 

tongue is dry

 

tongue well-papillated

 

tonsillar hypertrophy

 

tonsils (tonsils are 3+ bilaterally)

 

trichilemmoma

 

trismus (no trismus)

 

tympanic membranes

 

uvula

 

uvula is nonedematous

 

uvula moves on phonation

 

vermilion border

 

visual acuity is _____ (dictated value, usually 20/20)

 

visual field testing

 

wax impaction

 

Weber test

 

NECK: 

anterior cervical lymphadenopathy

bilateral bruits conducted from the aortic areas to both carotids.

Brudzinski sign

carotids are +2/4

carotids are full

elevated JVP up to the angle of the jaw

free of masses.

goiter

hepatojugular reflux or HJR (abbrev) 

JVD at 30 degrees, head up position.

meningeal irritation

meningeal signs

meningismus

neck brace.

neck collar.

neck is supple.

no bruits.  No carotid bruits.

no cervical or supraclavicular lymph nodes.

no jugular venous distention / No JVD. No JVP.  Jugular venous pressure is not raised

no JVD elevation.

no lymphadenopathy or thyromegaly.

no nodularity.

no thyroid enlargement.

nuchal rigidity

nuchal spasm

shotty lymph nodes (sounds "shoddy" but its shotty) 

trachea central

trachea midline

tender nodes

venous distention at 45 degrees

 

HEART OR CARDIOVASCULAR:

 

A2 louder than P2

apical impulse

apical murmur

audible murmurs

grade 1/6 or 2/6 or 3/6 systolic murmur.

irregularly irregular rhythm

loud P2

loud S3 gallop

no ectopy

no extra heart sounds

no friction rub

no heave or thrill

no MR, no AI

no precordial heave

no S3 or S4 appreciated

pericardial knock

PMI is at the fifth intercostal space.

PMI is at the fourth intercostal space.

PMI is diffuse.

PMI is hyperdynamic.

PMI is not displaced.

PMI.

Point of maximal impulse.

prosthetic click/sound

Regular rate and rhythm.

RRR.

RSR

S1 normal intensity, S2 single.

S1, S2, S3, S4.

S2 snapping sound with mild mitral insufficiency

soft 2/6 or 3/6 or 1/6 systolic murmur along the left sternal border.

soft systolic murmur.

without murmur, gallop, rub or click.

 

CHEST:

barrel chest

expansion was symmetric

midline sternotomy scar

pigeon chest

 

LUNGS OR PULMONARY: 

accessory muscles of respiration

adventitious sounds

costophrenic angles

crackles, wheezes, rhonchi.

crepitant rales

CTA (clear to auscultation)

diminished breath sounds.

E to A changes

equal breath sounds

good bilateral air entry.

good breath sounds.

good air exchange

hyperresonant

increased AP diameter

inspiratory, expiratory.

lung fields.

Lungs are clear to A&P.

Lungs are clear to auscultation and percussion.

no retraction

normal AP diameter

pleural rub

unlabored breathing

vesicular breath sounds
 

ABDOMEN: 

all 4 quadrants

appendectomy scar

ascites

ballottable

Bowel sounds are active.

cesarean section/hysterectomy scar seen.

diffuse direct tenderness

epigastric bruit

fluid wave

hyperactive bowel sounds.

hypoactive bowel sounds.

liver and spleen not palpable.

liver is palpable

McBurney's point

Murphy's sign

No guarding, rebound, hepatosplenomegaly.

No masses. No hernias.

No organomegaly or masses.

Normoactive bowel sounds.

Obese, bulky.

PEG tube in place.

peristalsis

Positive bowel sounds.

protuberant.

renal angles

scaphoid abdomen

scars from previous surgery seen

scars of surgery.

soft, flat, nontender, nondistended

stoma is patent

 

EXTREMITIES OR MUSCULOSKELETAL: 

1+ or 2+ edema.

above-knee amputation

anatomic snuffbox

ankle dorsiflexion

ankle edema.

anterior drawer sign

Apley grind test

Apley's test

arc of motion

ballotable patella

balls of feet

beats of clonus

below-knee amputation

brachial pulses are 1-2+ 

bunion

calcaneal cuboid

calf tenderness

capillary refill

CCE (cyanosis, clubbing or edema)

Charcot foot.

claudication

clonus

clubfoot.

"clunk" test for tib-fib

Cram test

dependent edema

DJD (degenerative joint disease)

Dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses.

DP and PT pulses.

drop-arm test for rotator cuff tear

DTRs are 2+.

DTRs are brisk.

DTRs are symmetric.

DTRs are trace.

flexion contracture

flexor digitorum

footdrop

functional hallux limitus

genu valgum/genu varum

golfer's elbow test

good joint range of motion without bony deformities

gravity drawer test

grip is full

hallux valgus

Hawkins test (Hawkins impingement sign)

Heberden's nodes of osteoarthritis

hip click (infant examination)

Homans sign

Hoover sign / test

Lachman

Ludington test

McMurray's test

Mild pedal edema / trace pedal edema.

milking the knee

Moves all 4 extremities well.

Mulder sign

Neer test (Neer impingement sign)

neutral calcaneal stance

no bony or joint abnormalities

No calf tenderness.

No cellulitis.

No cyanosis, clubbing or edema.

No lymphedema.

patella apprehension test

peripheral circulation

peripheral pulses are intact

Phalen test

pitting edema.

pivot shift

plantar flexion

poststatic dyskinesia

posterior drawer sign

posterior sag sign

radial pulse

reflexes are 2+ or absent or trace.

resting calcaneal stance

reverse Lasegue test

single leg stance

snuffbox tenderness

Speed test for biceps

stump (in case of amputee patient)

subtalar joint

subungual hematoma

talar tilt test

Thompson test

Tinel sign

toes are downgoing 

too-many-toe sign (valgus deformity)

two-beat clonus 

valgus/varus

varicose veins.

varus or valgus stress

wide-based gait

Yergason's test 

 

NEUROLOGICAL: 

Alert, awake, and oriented x3.

Alert, awake, and responsive.

anosmia

asterixis

Babinski.

Cerebellar function intact on finger-to-nose and rapid alternating movement

Cranial nerves II through XII grossly intact.

doll's eye reflex/sign

Dysmetria

extrapyramidal

facial droop

festinating gait

finger-to-nose.

flexors downgoing

Follows simple commands.

foot drop

gait and station

gaze  / conjugate gaze  /  dysconjugate gaze

gaze preference

heel-to-shin.

homonymous field defect

horizontal nystagmus / vertical nystagmus  / rotatory nystagmus

hypacusis

intention tremor

Moro's sign or reflex

motor impairment scale (MIS)

motor power

muscles of mastication

No cranial nerve deficit.

No focal deficits.

No focal weakness.

No headaches or seizures.

No history of convulsion, seizures, TIA or CVA.

noxious stimulation

oculocephalic reflex

oculocephalic maneuver

pronator drift

proprioception

rapid alternating movements

saccadic eye movements 

sensory exam - pinprick

straight leg raising positive (negative) at 45 degrees

suck and grasp

tandem walk

two-point proprioception

vibratory sense intact

Withdraws in response to tactile and painful stimuli.

 

GENITOURINARY/GENITALIA: 

balanitis

chancre

chordee

cremasteric reflex

circumcised phallus/penis

condyloma

epididymis

epididymis and cords are normal

genital warts

glans is normal

glans penis

meatus is orthotopic, patent and clear

no penile plaques or genital skin lesions

orchiectomy

perineum is normal

Peyronie disease

phallus

prepuce

priapism

scrotal swelling

scrotum

Tanner Developmental Scale

Tanner stage

testes descended bilaterally

testes have horizontal lie

testicular tumor

urethral groove

webbed penis

 

PELVIC:

adnexa negative for mass or tenderness

adnexa nontender

anterior lip of cervix

bimanual exam

bimanual rectovaginal exam

BUS negative.  BUS = (Bartholin's, urethral, Skene's) glands

cervical motion tenderness

cervix dilated to approximately 2 cm, vertex, -1 station  (values given as eg - actual as dictated)

cervix complete, 100% effaced, +2 station      (values given as eg - actual as dictated)

cervix 3 cm dilated, 50% effaced, -2 station   (values given as eg - actual as dictated)

cervix is long and closed

cervix is posterior and clean

cervix is smooth and normal in size

cervix was high

Chandelier sign

EGBUS  -  external genitalia (EG), Bartholin, urethral and Skene (BUS)

endometrial curetting

fibroids

GC and chlamydia culture

hysterectomy, oophorectomy

os is closed

pelvic floor

pelvic sidewalls are smooth

specimens for KOH and wet prep

supple pelvic floor

TAHBSO

uterine contour seems to be asymmetric

uterus is anteverted, anteflexed, and regular in contour

uterus is midposition

uterus normal size

uterus normal size, mobile, nontender

uterus retroverted

uterus was anteverted

uterus was sounded at

uterus, tubes, and ovaries

vaginal apex is normal

vagina and cervix without lesions or masses

vagina is pink, moist and rugose

vaginal vault

 

BREASTS:

no adenopathy

no dominant masses

no gynecomastia (IN CASE OF MALE PHY EXAM)

no nipple discharges or masses

no skin or nipple retractions

symmetrical

 

RECTAL: 

anal wall

abscess

ampulla

black tarry stool

bright red blood per rectum

digital exam

Exam deferred.

fecal occult blood

fissures

fistula, condyloma

heme-positive stools

Hemoccult positive/negative

hemorrhoid

hemorrhoidal plexus

hemorrhoids

normal sphincter tone

prostate

prostate is smooth, nontender and without nodules or fluctuance

rectal ampulla

rectal vault

size, shape, and mobility of prostate gland

stool for guaiac

 

BACK/SPINE: 

kyphoscoliosis

kyphosis

lordosis

No CVA tenderness.

paravertebral

scoliosis

 

SKIN: 

ABCD  -  asymmetry, border, color and diameter

angel's kisses

blanch

branny desquamation

bullae (bulla - singular)

burrows

caput medusae

condyloma

defurfuration

dermatographism

desquamation

eczema.

epidermal avulsion

epidermolysis

exophytic lesion

flaking

follicular, horny-spined areas

folliculitis

goatee of face

honeycomb-crusted

hyperkeratotic areas

hyperpigmented plaques

inoculation points

icteric

infiltrative lesion

Janeway lesion

keloid

keratosis, actinic keratosis

Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome

lesions

lichenification

lymphangitic streaking

lytic lesion

maculopapular exanthem

molluscum

mottled, cyanotic

Muehrcke lines / bands / sign

neoplastic lesion

Nikolsky sign

no lesions, nodules or rashes

no onychomycosis

no streaking

normal color, turgor, and temperature

notable for tattoos

Osler node

papular, pustular rash

petechiae

pink and warm to touch

pitted keratolysis

pityriasis

port-wine stains

pruritic

purpura

purpuric lesions

rosacea

Rhus dermatitis

ruddy complexion

sandpapery rash

satellite lesion

scabies infestation

scale-like rash

scleredema

seborrheic dermatitis

skin cancer

skin tag

skin turgor

sloughing

spider angiomas.

spider nevi

stigmata of liver disease

stork bites

strawberry tongue 

tenting

tyloma

ulceration, induration

unbroken and intact

urticaria

vascular streaking

verruca

vesicle

vesicular lesions

vesicular papules

vesiculation

warm and dry without rash

warm, dry, and well perfused

wart

wheal

wheal and flare reaction

xerosis 

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