List of medical mnemonics


This is a list of mnemonics used in medicine and medical science, categorized and alphabetized. A mnemonic is any technique that assists the human memory with information retention or retrieval by making abstract or impersonal information more accessible and meaningful, and therefore easier to remember; many of them are acronyms or initialisms which reduce a lengthy set of terms to a single, easy-to-remember word or phrase.

Mnemonics with wikipages

Anaesthesiology

Anaesthesia machine/room check

MS MAID:


DOPE:
MALES:
"Little Boys Prefer Toys":
"Ears, Nose, Hose, Fingers, and Toes"
"Digital PEN" – digits, penis, ear, nose

Behavioral science/psychology

Depression: major episode characteristics

SPACE DIGS:


"SIG E CAPS":




"Death Always Brings Great Acceptance":
HERO:
CHAP:
SAD PERSONS scale:


DElta waves during DEepest sleep
dREaM during REM sleep

Impotence causes

PLANE:
MED:
2 S's:
More detail with 2 more S's:

B vitamin names

"The Rhythm Nearly Proved Contagious":
In increasing order:
"PVT. TIM HALL always argues, never tires":




†Note that this initialism uses single letters for each amino acid that are not the same as the standard single-letter codes commonly used in molecular biology to uniquely specify each amino acid; for example, though phenylalanine is represented here by the letter "P", it is formally represented by the letter "F" in most other contexts, and "P" is instead used to formally represent proline.

Fasting state: branched-chain amino acids used by skeletal muscles

"Muscles LIVe fast":
“The fat cat lives in the ADEK.”

Folate deficiency: causes

A FOLIC DROP:




ABCD:
"Viagra Pills Cause A Major Hardon Tendency":
"On the hill, LIL trannie":

Emergency medicine

Acute LVF management

LMNOP:
THE ATRIAL FIBS:




Secret Little TIP Blood Clots:
Signs/Symptoms of PE '
PE is the most Likely diagnosis '
Tachycardia >100bpm '
Imobilisation/Surgery in the last 4 weeks '
Previous DVT/PE
Blood in sputum '
Active Cancer '
Two tier score: PE likely > 4

Causes of life-threatening chest pain

PET-MAC
Under 8, intubate.

Ipecac: contraindications

4 C's:
PQRST:
DOGASH:
ITCHPAD
Infarction
Tension pneumothorax
Cardiac tamponade
Hypovolemia/Hypothermia/Hypo-,Hyperkalemia/Hypomagnesmia/Hypoxemia
Pulmonary embolism
Acidosis
Drug overdose

Rapid sequence intubation (RSI)

SOAP ME
Suction
Oxygen
Airway Equipment
Positioning
Monitoring & Meds
EtCO2 & other Equipment
Rapid Sequence intubation Medications
Very Calmly Engage the Respiratory System
Vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg
Cisatracurium 0.2 mg/kg
Etomidate 0.3 mg/kg
Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg-1.2 mg/kg
Succinylcholine 1 mg/kg

Shock: signs and symptoms

TV SPARC CUBE:
Thirst
Vomitting
Sweating
Pulse weak
Anxious
Respirations shallow/rapid
Cool
Cyanotic
Unconscious
BP low
Eyes blank

Shock: types

RN CHAMPS :
Respiratory
Neurogenic
Cardiogenic
Hemorrhagic
Anaphylactic
Metabolic
Psychogenic
Septic

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes

BATS:
Berry aneurysm
Arteriovenous malformation/Adult polycystic kidney disease
Trauma
Stroke

Syncope causes, by system

HEAD HEART VESSELS:
CNS causes include HEAD:
Hypoxia/Hypoglycemia
Epilepsy
Anxiety
Dysfunctional brain stem
Cardiac causes are HEART:
Heart attack
Embolism
Aortic obstruction
Rhythm disturbance, ventricular
Tachycardia
Vascular causes are VESSELS:
Vasovagal
Ectopic
Situational
Subclavian steal
ENT
Low systemic vascular resistance
Sensitive carotid sinus

Tension pneumothorax: signs and symptoms

P-THORAX
Pleuritic pain
Tracheal deviation
Hyperresonance
Onset sudden
Reduced breath sounds
Absent fremitus
X-ray shows collapse

Ventricular fibrillation: treatment

Shock, Shock, Shock, Everybody Shock, Little Shock, Big Shock, Momma Shock, Poppa Shock:
Shock= Defibrillate
Everybody= Epinephrine
Little= Lidocaine
Big= Bretylium
Momma= MgSO4
Poppa= Pocainamide

Endocrine

Diabetes Complications

KNIVES:
Kidney – nephropathy
Neuromuscular – peripheral neuropathy, mononeuritis, amyotrophy
Infective – UTIs, TB
Vascular – coronary/cerebrovascular/peripheral artery disease
Eye – cataracts, retinopathy
Skin – lipohypertrophy/lipoatrophy, necrobiosis lipoidica

Hematology/Oncology

Anterior mediastinal masses

4 T's:
Teratoma
Thymoma
Testicular-type
T-cell / Hodgkin's lymphoma

Dermatomyositis or polymyositis: risk of underlying malignancy

Risk is 30% at age 30.
Risk is 40% at age 40, and so on.

Lung cancer: main sites for distant metastases

BLAB:
Bone
Liver
Adrenals
Brain

Esophageal cancer: risk factors

ABCDEF:
Achalasia
Barret's esophagus
Corrosive esophagitis
Diverticuliis
Esophageal web
Familial

Lung cancer: notorious consequences

SPEECH:
Superior vena cava syndrome
Paralysis of diaphragm
Ectopic hormones
Eaton-Lambert syndrome
Clubbing
Horner syndrome/ Hoarseness

Mole: signs of trouble

ABCDE:
Asymmetry
Border irregular
Colour irregular
Diameter usually > 0.5 cm
Elevation irregular

Prognotic factors for cancer: general

PROGNOSIS:
Presentation
Response to treatment
Old
Good intervention
Non-compliance with treatment
Order of differentiation
Stage of disease
Ill health
Spread

Pituitary endocrine functions often affected by pituitary-associated tumor

"Go Look For the Adenoma Please":
Tropic hormones affected by growth tumor are:
GnRH
LSH
FSH
ACTH
Prolactin function

Interviewing / Physical exam

Abdominal Assessment

To assess abdomen, palpate all 4 quadrants for DR. GERM:
Distension: liver problems, bowel obstruction
Rigidity : bleeding
Guarding: muscular tension when touched
Eviseration/ Ecchymosis
Rebound tenderness: infection
Masses

Altered Level of Consciousness: Reasons

AEIOU TIPS
Alcohol
Epilepsy, Electrolytes, and Encephalopathy
Insulin
Overdose, Oxygen
Underdose, Uremia
Trauma, Temperature
Infection
Psychogenic, Poisons
Stroke, Shock

Deep Tendon Reflexes (DTR's)

One Two, put on my shoe - S1/2 roots for Achilles Reflex
Three Four, kick the door - L3/4 roots for Patellar Reflex
Five Six, pick up sticks - C5/6 roots for Brachioradialis and Biceps Brachii Reflexes
Seven Eight, shut the gate - C7/8 roots for Triceps Brachii Reflex

Cause of symptoms

OPQRST
Onset of the event
Provocation or palliation
Quality of the pain
Region and radiation
Severity
Time

Fetal Monitoring

VEAL CHOP

Neurovascular Assessment

5 P's:
Pain
Pallor
Paresthesia
Pulse
Paralysis

Trauma assessment

DCAP-BTLS
Deformities & Discolorations
Contusions
Abrasions & Avulsion
Penetrations & Punctures
Burns
Tenderness
Lacerations
Swelling & Symmetry

Toxicological seizures: Causes

OTIS CAMPBELL
Organophosphates
Tricyclic antidepressants
Isoniazid, Insulin
Sympathomimetics
Camphor, Cocaine
Amphetamines
Methylxanthines
PCP, Propoxyphene, Phenol, Propranolol
Benzodiazepine withdrawal, Botanicals
Ethanol withdrawal
Lithium, Lidocaine
Lindane, Lead

Vomiting: non-GIT differential

ABCDEFGHI:
Acute renal failure
Brain
Cardiac
DKA
Ears
Foreign substances
Glaucoma
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Infection

Heart valve auscultation sites

"All Patients Take Meds":
Reading from top left:
Aortic
Pulmonary
Tricuspid
Mitral

Glasgow coma scale: components and numbers

Scale types is 3 V's:
Visual response
Verbal response
Vibratory response Scale scores are 4,5,6:
Scale of 4: see so much more
Scale of 5: talking jive
Scale of 6: feels the pricks

Mental state examination: stages in order

"Assessed Mental State To Be Positively Clinically Unremarkable":
Appearance and behaviour
Mood
Speech
Thinking
Behavioural abnormalities
Perception abnormalities
Cognition
Understanding of condition

History

SAMPLE history
Signs and Symptoms
Allergies
Medications
Past medical history, injuries, illnesses
Last meal/intake
Events leading up to the injury and/or illness
OPQST History
Onset of Symptoms
Provocation/Pallitive
Quality or character of pain
Region of pain or radiation
Signs, symptoms and severity
Time of onset, duration, intensity

Orthopaedic Assessment

CLORIDE FPP
Character: sharp or dull pain
Loccasion: region of origin
Onset: sudden vs. gradual
Radiation:
Intensity: how severe, impact on ADLs, is it getting better, worse or staying the same?
Duration: acute vs. chronic
Events associated: falls, morning stiffness, swelling, redness, joint clicking or locking, muscle cramps, muscle wasting, movement limitation, weakness, numbness or tingling, fever, chills, trauma, occupation activities, sports, repetitive movements
Frequency: intermittent vs. constant, have you ever had this pain before?
Palliative factors: is there anything that makes it better?
Provocative factors: is there anything that makes it worse?

Pain history checklist

SOCRATES:
Site
Onset
Character
Radiation
Alleviating factors/ Associated symptoms
Timing
Exacerbating factors
Severity
Alternatively, Signs and Symptoms with the 'S'
PLOTRADIO
Past history
Loccasion
Onset/offset
Type/character
Radiation
Aggravating/alleviating factors
Duration
Intensity
Other associated symptoms

Abdominal swelling causes

9 F's:
Fat
Feces
Fluid
Flatus
Fetus
Full-sized tumors
Full bladder
Fibroids
False pregnancy

Head Trauma: rapid neuro exam

12 P's
Psychological status
Pupils: size, symmetry, reaction
Paired ocular movements
Papilloedema
Pressure
Pulse and rate
Paralysis, Paresis
Pyramidal signs
Pin prick sensory response
Pee
Patellar reflex
Ptosis

Ocular bobbing vs. dipping

"Breakfast is fast, Dinner is slow, both go down":
Bobbing is fast
Dipping is slow
In both, the initial movement is down.

Pupillary dilation (persistent): causes

3AM:
3rd nerve palsy
Anti-muscarinic eye drops
Myotonic pupil

Clinical examination: initial Inspection of patient from end of bed

ABC:
Appearance
Behaviour
Connections

Differential diagnosis checklist

"A VITAMIN C"
A and C stand for Acquired and Congenital
VITAMIN stands for:
Vascular
Inflammatory
Trauma/ Toxins
Autoimmune
Metabolic
Idiopathic
Neoplastic
"Absent Reflexes Should Get Paediatrics Professors Mad"
Absent: Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
Reflexes: Rooting Reflex
Should: Suck Reflex
Get: Grasp Reflex
Paediatrics: Placing Reflex
Professors: Parachute Reflex
Mad: Moro Reflex

Family history (FH)

BALD CHASM:
Blood pressure
Arthritis
Lung disease
Diabetes
Cancer
Heart disease
Alcoholism
Stroke
Mental health disorders

Four point physical assessment of a disease

"I'm A People Person"
Inspection
Auscultation
Percussion
Palpation

Medical history: disease checklist

MJ THREADS:
Myocardial infarction
Jaundice
Tuberculosis
Hypertension
Rheumatic fever/ Rheumatoid arthritis
Epilepsy
Asthma
Diabetes
Strokes

Past medical history (PMH)

VAMP THIS:
Vices
Allergies
Medications
Preexisting medical conditions
Trauma
Hospitalizations
Immunizations
Surgeries

Patient examination organization

SOAP:
Subjective: what the patient says.
Objective: what the examiner observes.
Assessment: what the examiner thinks is going on.
Plan: what they intend to do about it

Patient profile (PP)

LADDERS:
Living situation/ Lifestyle
Anxiety
Depression
Daily activities
Environmental risks/ Exposure
Relationships
Support system/ Stress

Physical exam for 'lumps and bumps'

"6 Students and 3 Teachers go for CAMPFIRE":
Site, Size, Shape, Surface, Skin, Scar
Tenderness, Temperature, Transillumination
Consistency
Attachment
Mobility
Pulsation
Fluctuation
Irreducibility
Regional lymph nodes
Edge

Physical examination - correct order

"I Palpate People's Abdomens":
Inspection
Palpation
Percussion
Auscultation

Short stature causes

RETARD HEIGHT:
Rickets
Endocrine
Turner syndrome
Achondroplasia
Respiratory
Down syndrome
Hereditary
Environmental
IUGR
GI
Heart
Tilted backbone

Sign vs. symptom

S&S:
SIgn: I can detect attributes/reactions without patient description
SymPtom: Patient only can sense attributes/feelings

Surgical sieve for diagnostic categories

INVESTIGATIONS:
Iatrogenic
Neoplastic
Vascular
Endocrine
Structural/ Mechanical
Traumatic
Inflammatory
Genetic/ Congenital
Autoimmune
Toxic
Infective
Old age/ Degenerative
Nutritional
Spontaneous/ Idiopathic

Surgical sieve for diagnostic categories (alternate)

PAST MIDNIGHT:
Psychological
Autoimmune
Spontaneous/idiopathic
Toxic
Metabolic
Inflammatory
Degenerative
Neoplastic
Infection
Genetic
Hematological
Traumatic
VITAMIN CDEF:
Vascular
Infective/inflammatory
Traumatic
Autoimmune
Metabolic
Iatrogenic/idiopathic
Neoplastic
Congenital
Degenerative/developmental
Endocrine/environmental
Functional

Breast history checklist

LMNOP:
Lump
Mammary changes
Nipple changes
Other symptoms
Patient risk factors

Delivering Bad News

SPIKES:
Setting up
Perception
Invitation
Knowledge
Emotions
Strategy and Summary

Neurology

Chorea: common causes

St. VITUS'S DANCE:
Sydenhams
Vascular
Increased RBC's
Toxins: CO, Mg, Hg
Uremia
SLE
Senile chorea
Drugs
APLA syndrome
Neurodegenerative conditions: HD, neuroacanthocytosis, DRPLA
Conception related: pregnancy, OCP's
Endocrine: hyperthyroidism, hypo-, hyperglycemia

Congenital myopathy: features

DREAMS:
Dominantly inherited, mostly
Reflexes decreased
Enzymes normal
Apathetic floppy baby
Milestones delayed
Skeletal abnormalities

Dementia: reversible dementia causes

DEMENTIA:
Drugs/Depression
Elderly
Multi-infarct/Medication
Environmental
Nutritional
Toxins
Ischemia
Alcohol

Friedreich Ataxia Trinucleotide Repeat

”Ataxic GAAit”
Guanine
Adenine
Adenine

Stroke risk factors

HEADS:
Hypertension/ Hyperlipidemia
Elderly
Atrial fib
Diabetes mellitus/ Drugs
Smoking/Sex

Horner Syndrome

Horny PAMELA:
Ptosis
Anhydrosis
Miosis
Enophthalmos
Loss of ciliary-spinal reflex
Anisocoria

Cerebellar signs

DANISH:
Pinpoint Pupils are caused by oPioids and Pontine Pathology

Diagnostic criteria of Neurofibromatosis Type 1

CAFÉ SPOT:
Wet, Wobbly, Wacky:

Pharmacology

Gynaecomastia causing drugs

Some Drugs Create Awesome Knockers
Spironolactone
Digitalis
Cimetidine
Alcohol
Ketoconazole

Psychiatry

Conduct disorder vs. Antisocial personality disorder

Conduct disorder is seen in Children. Antisocial personality disorder is seen in Adults.

Depression: symptoms and signs (DSM-IV criteria)

AWESOME:
Affect flat
Weight change
Energy, loss of
Sad feelings/ Suicide thoughts or plans or attempts/ Sexual inhibition/ Sleep change / Social withdrawal
Others
Memory loss
Emotional blunting

Depression

UNHAPPINESS:
Understandable
Neurotic
Agitation
Pseudodementia
Pain
Importuniing
Nihilistic
Endogenous
Secondary
Syndromal

Erikson's developmental stages

"The sad tale of Erikson Motors":
Mr. Trust and MsTrust had an auto they were ashamed of. She took the initiative to find the guilty party. She found the industry was inferior. They were making cars with dents and rolling fuses . Mr. N.T. Macy isolated the problem, General TVT absorbed the cost. In the end, they found the tires were just gritty and the should have used de- spare!

Mental state examination

ASEPTIC:
Appearance
Speech
Emotion
Perceptions
Thoughts
Insight
Cognition

Mania: cardinal symptoms

DIG FAST:
Distractibility
Indiscretion
Grandiosity
Flight of ideas
Activity increase
Sleep deficit
Talkativeness

Mania: diagnostic criteria

Must have 3 of MANIAC:
Mouth / Moodl
Activity increased
Naughty
Insomnia
Attention
Confidence

Parasomnias: time of onset

SLeep terrors and SLeepwalking occur during SLow-wave sleep.NightmaRE occurs during REM sleep.

Psychiatric review of symptoms

"Depressed Patients Seem Anxious, So Call Psychiatrists":
Depression and other mood disorders
Personality disorders
Substance abuse disorders
Anxiety disorders
Somatization disorder, eating disorders
Cognitive disorders
Psychotic disorders

Schizophrenia: negative features

4 A's:
Ambivalence
Affective incongruence
Associative loosening
Autism

Substance dependence: features (DSM IV)

WITHDraw IT:
Withdrawal
Interest or Important activities given up or reduced
Tolerance
Harm to physical and psychosocial known but continue to use
Desire to cut down, control
Intended time, amount exceeded
Time spent too much

Radiology

Chest radiograph: checklist to examine

"Pamela Found Our Rotation Particularly Exciting; Very Highly Commended Mainly 'Cus She Arouses":
Patient details
Film details
Objects
Rotation
Penetration
Expansion
Vessels
Hila
Costophrenic angles
Mediastinum
Cardiothoracic Ratio
Soft tissues and bones
Air

Chest X-ray interpretation

Preliminary is ABCDEF:
AP or PA
Body position
Confirm name
Date
Exposure
Films for comparison
Analysis is ABCDEF:
Airways
Breast shadows/ Bones
Cardiac silhoutte / Costophrenic angles
Diaphragm / Digestive tract
Edges / Extrathoracic tissues
Fields / Failure

Chest X-ray: cavitating lesions differential

"If you see HOLES on chest X-ray, they are WEIRD":
Wegener's granulomatosis
Embolic
Infection
Rheumatoid
Developmental cysts
Histiocytosis
Oncological
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Environmental, occupational
Sarcoid
Alternatively: L=Left atrial myxoma

Elbow ossification centers, in sequence

CRITOE:
Capitellum
Radial head
Internal epicondyle
Trochlea
Olecranon
External epicondyle

Head CT scan: evaluation checklist

"Blood Can Be Very Bad":
B lood
Cistern
Brain
Ventricles
Bone

Neck sagittal x-ray: examination checklist

ABCD:
Anterior: look for swelling
Bones: examine each bone for fractures
Cartilage: look for slipped discs
Dark spots: ensure not abnormally big, or could mean excess blood

Osteoarthritis: x-ray signs

LOSS:
Loss of joint space
Osteopyhtes
Subcondral sclerosis
Subchondral cysts

T2 vs. T1 MRI scan

"WW 2" :
Water is White in a T2 scan.
Conversely, a T1 scan shows fat as being whiter.

Upper lobe shadowing: causes

BREASTS:
Beryllium
Radiation
Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Sarcoidosis
TB
Siliconiosis

Respiratory

Airway assessment

LEMON
PIPPA
ASTHMA
CAT items: CHEST SEA
To aid memory, think of the chest floating in a sea of yellow sputum, which is commonly seen in COPD.
A TEA SHOP
A CHEST
LMNOP:
Lasix
Morphine
Nitro
Oxygen
Position/Positive pressure ventilation

Miscellaneous

The following may or may not fit properly into one of the above categories. They are being stored in this section either temporarily or permanently. Categorize them if needed.

Cholinergic Crisis

SLUDGE and the Killer B's:
Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Diaphoresis, Diarrhea
Gastrointestinal cramping
Emesis
Bradycardia
Bronchospasm
Bronchorrhea
also known as DUMBBELLS
Diarrhea
Urination
Miosis
Bradycardia
Bronchospasm
Emesis
Lacrimation
Loss of muscle strength
Salivation/Sweating

Cheyne-Stokes breathing

Cheyne-Stokes breathing sounds like "Chain smokes"
Drugs Causing Gynaecomastia: DISCO
Digitalis
Isoniazid
Spironolactone
Cimetidine, ketoconazole
Oestrogen

Drugs for Bradycardia and Hypotension

Isoproterenol
Dopamine
Epinephrine
Atropine Sulfate

Diaphragm innervation

C3, 4, 5 Keeps the Diaphragm Alive

Intubation preparation

7 P's
Preparation
Preoxygenation
Pretreatment
Paralysis with induction
Positioning
Placement of tube
Postintubation management

Pentad of TTP

FAT RN:
Fever
Anemia
Thrombocytopenia
Renal
Neuro changes

Systemic lupus erythematosus: Diagnostic symptoms

SOAP BRAIN MD
Serositis
Oral ulcers
Arthritis
Photosensitivity, pulmonary fibrosis
Blood cells
Renal, Raynaud's
ANA
Immunologic
Neuropsych
Malar rash
Discoid rash however, not in order of diagnostic importance.