Glossary of
Medical Terms, Abbreviations
&
Symbols
Dutch-English,
French-English,
German-English
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D
= dextrose (e.g. D5 =sugar as
5% in normal saline) /
DA
= 1. diensthabender Arzt = duty physician; 2.
domoic acid (Japanese
"domoi", seaweed, cause of
food poisoning); 3. dopamine / DAB
= Deutsches Arzneibuch
= (suggest)
German Pharmacopoeia / DAEC
=
diffusely adherent E. coli (bacteriol.)
/ DAJ = dose admissible
journalière see
DJA
/ Damm
=
perineum / Dämmerungssehen
= twilight vision; night vision / Dämmerzustand
= twilight state; clouding of cosnciousness (epilepsy)
/ Dämpfung
= dullness (of heart and lung
sounds, diminished resonance on percussion)
/ Dangerous
Pathogens Advisory Group (UK)
/ DAP
= diastolic arterial pressure (blood)
/ DAR =
développé, assis, renversé
(physiotherapy)
/ Darmbakterien
= intestinal flora / darmbeen
see Darmbein
/ Darmbein
= iliac bone; os ilium / Darmbeinstachel
= iliac spine / Darmbewegung
= peristalsis / Darmbrand
see
NEC
/ hintere Darmbucht
= hindgut / Darmeinlauf
= enema; clyster / darmkronkel
= volvulus / darmlis
=
intestinal loop / darmpathogen
= enteropathogenic
/ darmpek
= meconium / Darmsaft
= intestinal juice;
succus entericus / darmscheil
= mesentery / darmsteen
=
intestinal calculus; enterolith / Darmverschluß
= bowel
obstruction; intestinal obstruction; ileus / Darmzotte
=
intestinal villus / Dasselfliege
= gadfly / DAT
=
1. dementia of the Alzheimer's type, synonym
for Alzheimer's
disease;
2. differential agglutination
titration; 3. dispensaire
antituberculeux; / Dattelgeschwür
= cutaneous
leishmaniasis; oriental boil (by
Leishmania tropica) / Dauerausscheider
= carrier / Dauerkatheter
= indwelling catheter / dauwworm
= infantile eczema; atopic dermatitis / davier
= dental forceps
/ DBA = Diamond-Blackfan
anaemia / DBD
= donor after brain death / DBTL =
double-balloon triple-lumen (catheter) / DC;
D&C
= dilatation and curettage (gyn.)
/ DCA
= directional
coronary atherectomy /
DCD = 1.
décédé
= died; 2. donor after
circulatory death (previously "donor
after cardiac death") / DCF
= depth correction factor (diving
med.) / DCFI see CFI
/ DCI
= dénominations communes internationales
=
International Nonproprietary Names (INN) (WHO)
; daily
calorie intake /
DCIS
= ductal carcinoma in situ; duktales
Carcinoma in situ
(breast
cancer) / DCL
= démence à
corps de Lewy, see
LBD
/ DCO
= diffusion capacity of
oxygen (rmed.)
/ DD
= 1. décubitus
dorsal;
dorsal decubitus; see
decubitus;
2. differential diagnosis / DDAC = donneur
décédé par/après
arrêt cardiaque/circulatoire, see
DCD
/
DDC = des deux
côtés =
bilaterally, on both sides
/
ddC
= dideoxycitidine (AIDS drugs:
generic name zalcitabine;
brand name
Hivid) /DDH
= developmental dysplasia of
the hip (replaces
obsolete term "CDH = congenital dislocation of the hip"
/ DDME = donneur décédé en
état de mort encéphalique, see
DBD / DE50
= dose efficace
médiane, see ED50
/ patient de novo
= de novo patient (new to a drug trial, as against
"roll-over patients" who have taken part in a previous one) /
DEA
=
Drug Enforcement Administration
(USA)
/
douleurs
de deafférentation
= deafferent pain / débâcle
digestive
see D & V
/
débile
= feebleminded / débit
cardiaque = cardiac output (symbol
Q) /
débit de dose = dose
rate (tox.)
/ débit
pulmonaire = airflow /
débit systolique =
stroke volume (card.)
/ débit urinaire =
urinary output /
débimétrie
mictionnelle, débit
urinaire = uroflowmetry /
"déboîter" =
dislocate /
débridement =
debridement (verb:
to
debride) / débris
cellulaire
= cellular debris /
DEC
= diethylcarbamazine citrate (antifilarial
drug) /
déchaussement dentaire
=
parodontal disease;
parodontosis; spongy gums / déchirure
musculaire = muscle tear /
Deckknochen
= membrane bone / Deckzellen
= cover cells / déclencher
=
trigger / déclive
(patient
position): supine, with head
lower than feet / décollement
= undermining (skin graft)
/
décollé
= detached (retina
e.g.) / decompensatio
cordis
=
cardiac decompensation / déconditionnement
= aversion therapy (addictions)
/ déconfinement = relaxation, easing of
lockdown (Covid-19)
/ décontraction
= relaxation (muscle)
/ décontracturant
= muscle
relaxant / région découverte
=
exposed area (of body)
/ décrémentation;
décrémenter = step-down; to step down (treatment
of asthma e.g.) /
decubitus
(definition: lying down
position: dorsal decubitus
= lying on the back (supine); left lateral decubitus = lying on the
left side; right lateral decubitus = lying on the right side; ventral
decubitus = lying on the stomach (prone)
/ en
dedans
de = medial to; on the medial side of (anat.)
/
dédifférentiation
= loss of
differentiation (cells)
/ utérus
dédoublé
see didelphe /
défaillance
= functional
insufficiency
/ besoin défécatoire see
besoin d'aller aux selles /
défense
abdominale; défense
musculaire = abdominal guarding; abdominal spasm; (momentary)
abdominal rigidity (involuntary response to pain)
/ déficite
immunautaire =
immunodeficiency; immune deficiency / défrénation
= (cardiac)
denervation / dégagé = patent
(medical imaging) /
dégantage
=
de-gloving (skin graft)
/ degeneratie
van het axon, die distaal begint
= dying back (nerves)
/ dégénérescence
=
degeneration
(tissues)
/
déglutition
= (act of)
swallowing / dégraissage;
dégraisser
=
defatting; to defat (skin
graft) / Dehnbarkeit
= 1. elasticity;
distensibility (elements of
respiratory system generally);
2.
compliance (lung):
dynamische
Dehnbarkeit = dynamic
compliance;
statische
Dehnbarkeit = static
compliance / en
dehors
de = lateral to; on the lateral side of (anat.)
/ déjections
=
faeces;
dejecta / DEL
= dose
equivalent limit (rad.: mSv/yr)
/
Delhigeschwür
see
Dattelgeschwür / Dellwarze
= molluscum
contagiosum / DEM
= 1. débit
expiratoire maximal = forced
expiratory flow
(FEF) (rmed.);
2.
dissociation
électro-mécanique,
see
AESP
and PEA
(cardiol.)
/
démangeaisons
= itching; pruritis / démaquillé
(test, e.g.)
= done with
patient off medication, on current medication / démarche
= gait /
DEMM
= débit
expiratoire maximal moyen = maximum mid-expiratory flow
(MMF;
MMEF) (rmed.)
/ DEMS = débit expiratoire maximal seconde
see FEV1
(rmed.)
/ dénatalité
= falling birth rate; denatality /
densité
= profusion (number
of small rounded opacities per unit area
of lung) (rad./rmed.)
/ densité
combinée =
combined
profusion (rad./rmed.)
/ dentelé
= serrated / dentier
= denture / dents en
scie
=
saw-toothed, serrated (pattern
on ECG tracing) / denture
(FR)
=
dentition / dénutrition
=
nutritional deficiency; malnutrition / déontologie
médicale = medical
ethics; deontology / DEP =
débit expiratoire maximum de pointe
= peak
expiratory flow (rate), see
PEFR
(rmed.)
/ dépassé
= advanced (of disease)
/
Depersonalisationsgefühl
= "spaced-out" feeling / dépistage
=
detection; screening; (epidem.)/
dépistage
biologique humain =
human (biological) monitoring / dépistage
intensif localisé = surge testing (defined:
increased testing for a
disease in a specific location)(virology, Covid) /
depotinjectie
= slow-release
injection /
DEQM = Direction européenne de la
qualité du
médicament & soins de santé, see EDQM
/ DER = 1. dépense
énergétique de
repos, see REE;
2. daily energy requirement (nutrition) / dérivation
= 1.
shunt; 2.
lead; electrode (ECG e.g.)
/ dermite
ocre = statis
dermatitis (brown discoloration
on skin over congested veins) /
dermografie = dermographism;
dermatographism;
dermatographia (allergies)
/ déroulement
aortique = aortic enlargement /
DES
=
drug-eluting stent
(card.)
/ descente d'organes = prolapse (gyn.)
/
désépidermisation
=
de-epidermization /
déshydratation =
dehydration /
désintoxification =
detoxification; "drying out" (alcolholism)
/
désodé =
low-sodium (diet)
/
desoxyribonucleïnzuur =
deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA) /
détersion =
debridement; cleansing (of wound)
/
détroit = (pelvic
e.g.) strait /
dévié =
displaced (organ)
/ DEXA;
DXA
= dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (bone
density) /
Dexametason = dexamethasone (pharm.)
/
dextralité =
right-handedness; dextrality
(= right laterality:
preferential use
of right hand, foot, eye & other paired body organs)
/ DFM =
dysplasie fibro-musculaire =
fibrous dysplasia / DG =
Darmgeräusch =
bowel sound / DGHM = Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Hygiene und
Mikrobiologie = German Society
for Hygiene and Microbiology /
DGS = Direction
générale
de la santé =
Directorate-General for Health (FR)
/ DHC = 1. ductus hepatocholedochus, see
CBD;
2. ductus hepaticus communis, see CHD
/
DHEA =
dehydroepiandrosteron / DI =
détroit inférieur = inferior
strait (pelvis)
/ diabète
asymptomatique see
diabète infraclinique /
diabète
bronzé =
haemochromatosis; bronze diabetes; bronzed diabetes /
diabète
fruste = latent diabetes /
diabète gras see
diabète
sucré /
diabète
infraclinique = subclinical
diabetes / diabète
patent =
clinical diabetes /
diabète sucré =
diabetes mellitus (DM);
"sugar
diabetes" / diabète
symptomatique see
diabète patent /
Diagnostisches und
statistisches Manual psychischer Störungen,
see
DSM
/
diathese; diathèse =
predisposition; diathesis /
diazoréaction =
Ehrlich's (diazo) reaction /
DIBD
= development international
birth date, defined: "date of
first approval (or authorisation) for
conducting an interventional clinical trial in any country (see ICH-E2F
Guideline, Volume 10 of the Rules Governing Medicinal Products in the
EU)" (Source:
EMA,
see also
IBD)
/
DIC = disseminated
intravascular
congestion / Dichteanhebung =
opacification (rad./rmed.)
/
Dickdarm = large intestine;
inestinum crassum /
Dickdarmkrebs
=
colorectal cancer / dicklumig
=
large-lumen
(catheter)
/ DID = diabète
insulino-dépendant see
IDD
/ utérus didelphe =
didelphic uterus; uterus didelphys / diëncefalon;
diencéphale;
Dienzephalon =
diencephalon; betweenbrain;
interbrain;
tweenbrain / diener
(defined)
=
autopsy assistant (German word
used in English) / diff
= differential, see e.g. under
blood
count / différé
= store-and-forward (method,
system) (archiving
and later transmission of archived data in telemedicine, as opposed to
real-time transmission) /
Differentialblutbild see
full
blood count / diffundieren
= diffuse / diffuse reflectie
= diffuse
reflection (laser surgery) /
capacité
de
diffusion;
Diffusionskapazität =
diffusing capacity, see DL
and DLCO
(rmed.:
preferred syn. is "transfer
factor") / digestif = gastrointestinal (e.g.
tumour) /
digitaliques
= digitalis glycosides (card.)
/ Dignität
= (defined)
significance or
behaviour of a tumour; whether it is benign or malignant (English
has
no single-word equivalent) /
dijbeen =
femur / dijbreuk =
femoral hernia / dikke darm see
Dickdarm /
Dikrotie = dicrotism /
dikvloeibaar = viscous /
diluer à 10% = use a
1:10 dilution, dilute tenfold; dilute to 10% of original strength / DIL
= 1. drain d’irrigation-lavage = 3-way catheter (1
lumen
drains, 1 lumen irrigates, and balloon is inflated via the 3rd lumen);
2. drainage irrigation-lavage = lavage and
drainage; washout and
drainage (urol.) /
DIOS
=
distal
intestinal obstructive syndrome /
diphenadione: an
anticoagulant,
used esp. systemically in livestock
/ Disabled Persons
(Employment)
Acts 1944 & 1958 (UK)
/ étude de la
discrimination =
discrimination
analysis /
disgrâce
= blemish; deformity / disgracieux
=
unsightly / disloziert
= displaced (NB not
"dislocated", which is
"luxiert") / disque
basculant =
tilting
disc valve (aortic repair device)
/ disque jambier see ischio-jambier
/
dissociation du pouls: paraphrase
needed, refers to the paradox of high
temperature with low pulse rate in e.g. typhoid fever
/
Dissoziationskurve =
dissociation curve (rmed.)
/ infection à distance = remote site
infection, remote
infection (contrast: surgical site infection) /
distome
= distoma (obsolete, see
liver fluke)
(parasite)
/ DITEPER
= diphtérie, tétanos,
coqueluche (pertussis) see
DTP
/ dithizone auto analysis / DIU
= dispositif intrautérin see IUD
/ diurèse = urine output (not
diuresis which, in EN, means
abornmally large urine output, polyuria) / geforceerde
diurese = forced diuresis / DJA
=
dose
journalière admissible
see
ADI
/
DJD =
degenerative joint disease (synonym:
osteoarthritis) / DJT
= dose journalière
tolérable see
TDI
/
DKA = diabetic ketoacidosis /
DKFZ =
Deutsches
Krebsforschungszentrum = German
Cancer Research Centre (based
Heidelberg) /
DKPT = difterie, kinkhoest, poliomyelitis, tetanus
=
diphtheria, pertussis, poliomyelitis, tetanus /
DL = 1.
décubitus
latéral = lateral
decubitus; 2. dosis letalis = lethal dose (LD) /
DL
; DLCO
= (CO) diffusing capacity (preferred
syn. TLCO
= transfer factor)(rmed.)
/ DLD = décubitus
latéral
droit = right lateral decubitus
/ DLG = décubitus
latéral
gauche = left
lateral decubitus / DLP
= dose length product (in mGy.cm)(med.
imaging) / DLR =
digitale Lumineszenzradiographie,
see
CR
3.
/
DLT
=
double lung transplant / DLWD
= diffuse
lymphocytic, well differentiated (classification
of lymphomas) /
DM
= 1. diabetes mellitus; 2.
maximum permissible dose (MPD) / Dm
= diffusing capacity of pulmonary membrane (rmed.)
/
DMARDs
= disease-modifying drugs;
"deemards" / DME (ophthalm.) see
DMO
/ DMEM
=
Dulbecco MEM (microbiol.: a
culture medium) / DMLA =
dégénérescence maculaire
liée à l'âge, see AMD / DMO
= diabetic macular oedema (US edema, so
DME) /
DMP
= disease management programme / DNA
=
deoxyribonucleic acid /
DNID = diabète non
insulino-dépendant, see
NIDDM
/ DNP
=
deoxyribonucleoprotein / DNPC = dimensions normales du
périmètre crânien see
NHC
/ DNR
=
do not
resuscitate / DNS
=
Desoxyribonukleinsäure see
DNA / DOA
= dead
on arrival (emed.)
/ dobu
= dobutamine (as in dobutamine
(stress) echocardiography) / DOC
= 11-deoxycorticosterone / Doca®
=
1. desoxycortone acetate; 2. desoxycorticosterone acetate /
dochtergezwel
= metastasis;
secondary tumour / dode ruimte
= dead space
(rmed.)
/ DMLA = / DOE
= double
oil emulsion (vaccine)
/ doekklem
= towel clip (surgical drapes)
/ scotome en doigt de gants = Bjerrum scotoma (opthal.)
/ doigt
en marteau = mallet
finger; hammer finger; drop finger; baseball finger / doigt
à ressort
=
trigger finger; snapping finger / travers de
doigt
see
QF
/ Dolenz
= tenderness (on
palpation
e.g.) / aides à domicile
= domiciliary
services, contrast residential
care (social
security) / donneur
compatible = matched
donor (blood e.g.)
/
doorbraakbloeding
=
break-through bleeding; spotting (gyn.)
/
doornuitsteksel
see
Dornfortsatz / dopa
=
dihydroxyphenylalanine / doppelseitige
Zentrallähmung =
bilateral
paralysis /
doppelsträngig
= double-stranded (DNA,
RNA) / Dornfortsatz
=
spinous process / Dornwarze
= plantar wart; verruca plantaris;
"verruca" /
dosage
= measurement (NB
EN dosage = posologie) / dose
engagé = committed
dose / dose
excessive = overdose
(OD) (narcotics)
/
doses filées
= very small repeated doses /
dose de rappel
= booster dose (vaccinations)
/
Dosisaerosol
= metered-dose inhaler; metered-dose aerosol (asthma)
/ DOT
=
directly observed therapy / DOTS
=
directly observed therapy short course / dotteren
=
balloon dilatation (used in
angiography) (named
after C.J.
Dotter, US physician) / double
blind trial: "In
blind trials the
patients are kept in ignorance of the particular drug being
administered at any stage of the experiment. This is particularly
desirable if the experimenter has to rely on self-ratings by the
patients. In double blind trials both the patients and the doctor or
nurse assessing the treatment effects are, in so far as is possible,
kept unaware of the particular treatments they are trying to assess."
/
douleurs spontanés
= pain / douleurs
provoquées
=
tenderness
/ "douve"
see
distome
/ DPL
= diagnostic
peritoneal lavage / DPLD
= diffuse parenchymal lung
disease, see
ILD
/ DPNI = dépistage prénatal non invasif,
see NIPD,
NIPT
/ Dpp positionnelle = positional deep dyspareunia (gyn.)
/ DPPC
=
dipalmitoyl
lecithin / DPT
see
DTP
/ draadlus
= (wire) loop; loop
electrode
(surg.)
/ draadworm
=
threadworm / draagbaar
=
stretcher /
draagmoeder
= surrogate mother (gyn.)
/ draagmoederschap
=
surrogacy (gyn.)
/ DRABC
= Danger,
Response;
Airway;
Breathing;
Circulation
(checks in first aid)
/
draaier
= 1. axis; 2. second
cervical vertebra; 3. trochanter / Drainage
(DE)
= 1. drainage
(procedure); 2. drain (surg. instrument)
/ drainage
aspiratif
= suction
drainage; drainage en
écoulement libre =
free drainage; drainage en
siphonnage = gravity drainage (surg.)
/ Drang
=
urgency (to urinate, defaecate)
/ drapeau rouge
see
red
flag / DRCM
= differential reinforced
clostridial medium /
DRE
= digital rectal examination / DREADD
= designer receptor exclusively
activated by designer drugs (biol.) / Drehbruch
= spiral fracture / Dreiecksbein
=
triangular bone; os triquetrum / Dreimandelnhyperplasie
(defined ICD as
"Hyperplasie der Gaumenmandeln mit Hyperplasie der Rachenmandel"=
hypertrophy (or hyperplasia) of the palatine tonsils and adenoid (or
pharyngeal tonsil) / dreizipfelig
= tricuspid (heart
valve e.g.) / dreksteen
see
darmsteen / anémie
drépanocytaire; drépanocytose
= sickle-cell
anaemia / DRF = Darreichungsform = formulation;
dosage form (pharm.) / DRG
= 1. diagnosis-related group (hospital
fee charging); 2. dorsal
root ganglia / drieslippig
see
dreizipfelig
/ (needle) driver = needle holder (surg.)
/
droiterie
= right-handedness / Drosselvene
= 1. external jugular vein
(neck);
2. "cushion vein"; "throttle vein"; sluice;
sluice channel
(describes function of various
veins, e.g. the small sluices
of Deysach
in the liver) /
DRU = digitale rektale
Untersuchung see
DRE
/
Druckgeschwür
= pressure sore;
bed sore; decubitus ulcer; decubitus / Druckkonus
=
tonsillar
herniation (of cerebellum)
/ Druckverband
= compression dressing; compression bandage; pressure
bandage; pressure dressing /
drugs of abuse,
contrast
therapeutic drugs / druifvlies
= uvea / druiper
= gonorrhoea / druivensuiker
=
glucose;
dextrose /
druppelinfectie
= droplet
infection / Drüsenentzündung
=
adenitis /
Drüsenfieber
= glandular fever;
infectious mononucleosis / DS
= 1.
defined supplement (microbiol.);
2. détroit
supérieur =
superior
strait (pelvis)
/ DSDS = Direction de la
santé et du
développement social
=
(suggest)
Directorate for Health and Social
Development (FR)
/ DSM
=
1. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (American
Psychiatric Association); 2. déficit
sensorimoteur, see SMD;
3. dose standard médiane, see
MSD;
4. dose
standard moyenne, see MSD
/ DSMB
= Data
Safety Monitoring
Board (USA;
clinical
trials) / DSP
= diarrhoetic shellfish poisoning; poison / DTaP
= diphtheria
and tetanus toxoid with acellular pertussis (vaccine)
/ DT
Coq =
diphthérie, tétanos, coqueluche
see
DTP
/
DTCP = diphtérie,
tétanos, coqueluche, polio
see
DTPP
/ DTP
=
diphtheria,
tetanus, pertussis (triple
vaccine) / DTPP
= diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio / DTX
=
dinophysistoxin / dubbelblinde
proef see
double blind
trial (pharm.)
/
dubbelstrengig
= double-stranded (DNA,
RNA) / DuCO
=
ductance CO = transfer factor
(TLCO)
/ Duftdrüsen
= apocrine sweat
glands / duikerziekte
=
decompression
sickness; "the bends" / duizeligheid
= dizziness; giddiness, vertigo /
Dünndarm
= small intestine;
intestinum tenue / dunne darm
see
Dünndarm / duplicité
=
duplication (of organ e.g.)
/ Durchblutung
(+ Gen. case)
=
blood supply (to)
/
Durchbruch
= 1. perforation (ulcer
e.g.); eruption (teeth) / Durchgangsarzt;
D-Arzt
(D):
(suggest)
accident physician (licensed by
a
Berufsgenossenschaft to treat or refer accident victims
(insurance)
/ durchgehend
=
full-thickness (muscle tear)
/ Durchläßigkeit
= permeability / Durchleuchtung
= 1.
fluoroscopy;
2. transillumination /
Durchstich
= transfixion (suture,
ligature) / mit vielen
Blutgefäßen durchzogen
=
highly vascular; richly supplied with blood
vessels / dure-mère
= dura
mater /
duremérien
= (of, pertaining
to)
dura mater / durée
de
conservation = shelf life (pharm.)
/
durillon
= callus (covering
bigger area and less deep than a corn, usually on sole of foot)
/
Düsenvernebler
= jet
nebulizer; nozzle nebulizer (in
asthma e.g.)
/ duvet
= down (laguno
of
newborn e.g.) / DV
=
1. décubitus ventral
= ventral decubitus; 2. see Druckverband / D
& V = diarroea and vomiting / DVE
=
distribution du volume érythrocytaire see
RDW
/ DVT
= deep vein thrombosis / DW
= distribution width (blood)
/
dwarsgestreept
=
striated (muscle)
/ Dx
= diagnosis / dyscommunicant = non-verbal;
non-communicating / nodule
dysorique
= cotton-wool
exsudate; cotton-wool spot (ophth.)
/ dyspnée
d'effort =
exertional
dyspnoea (rmed.)
"DocBag"
graphic courtesy of IconBazaar
Created
by Alison
Gaunt
Last
updated: 1 February 2024
