By Kaleigh Bishop

Biology 120
November 26, 2014
ABBREVIATIONS
Many medical terms have abbreviations that are universally accepted and
used for
convenience. The following slides cover abbreviations related to the
special senses.
The abbreviations are listed in orange.
EYE, EAR, NOSE AND THROAT

Eye
Ear
Nose
Throat
RIGHT EYE/OD RI LEFT EYE/OS

BOTH EYES/OU
 EXTRAOCULAR MOVEMENT/EOM

Extraocular movements are controlled by six extraocular muscles, four rectus

muscles and two oblique. These muscles allow us to move the eye up, down and
from side to side.
VISUAL ACUITY/VA
Sharpness of a patient’s vision. This
is often measured by using a Snellen
chart.

EMMETROPIA/EM
State of normal vision.
EXOTROPIA/XT ESOTROPIA/ST

A. Esotropia is when the eye turns inward

B. Exotropia is when the eye turns outward

Both are examples of strabismus and is caused

by weakness in the extraocular muscles
RIGHT EAR/AD LEFT EAR/AS

BOTH EARS/AU
 PRESSURE EQUALIZING TUBE/PE TUBE

A small tube
surgically
inserted into
an eardrum
to help
equalize
pressure and
assist in
draining
trapped fluid.
BONE CONDUCTION/BC

The conduction of sound to the inner ear by the bones in the skull.
OTITIS MEDIA/OM

Normal Inflamed

Otitis Media is commonly known as a middle

ear infection and is often seen in children.
Fluid accumulates in the middle ear and
causes inflammation.
 SUMMARY
Abbreviation
EENT Eye, ear, nose and throat
OS/OD Left Eye/Right Eye
OU Both Eyes
EOM Extraocular Movement
VA Visual Acuity
EM Emmetropia
XT Exotropia
ST Esotropia
AS/AD
Left Ear/Right Ear
AU
Both Ears
PE Tube
Pressure Equalizing Tube
BC
Bone Conduction
OM
Otitis Media