Abbreviations and Units

Update: 2007/3/24

SUMMARY: Abbreviations Usable without Definition, Units Abbreviations, Prefixes for decimal multiples and submultiples

Table 1. Abbreviations Usable without Definition

Abbreviation	Definition	Abbreviation	Definition
ACh	acetylcholine	GABA	gamma-aminobutyric acid
AChE	acetylcholinesterase	GDP	guanosine 5'-diphosphate
ACTH	adrenocorticotropic hormone	GMP	guanosine 5'-monophosphate
ADP	adenosine 5'-diphosphate	GTP	guanosine 5'-triphosphate
AMP	adenosine 5'-monophosphate	HEPES	4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-peperazine-ethanesulfonic acid
ATP	adenosine 5'-triphosphate
bw	body weight	HPLC	high performance liquid chromatography
¹⁴C	carbon isotope	HRP	horseradish peroxidase
Ca²⁺	calcium ion	5-HT	5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)
cAMP	cyclic AMP (adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate)	Ht	hematocrit
CAT	choline acetyltransferase	ICF	intracellular fluid
cDNA	complementary deoxyribonucleic acid	IgG	immunoglobulin
cGMP	cyclic GMP (guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate)	i.p. (small capitals)	intraperitoneal
CM-cellulose	O-(carboxymethyl)-cellulose	IPSP	inhibitory postsynaptic potential
CNS	central nervous system	i.v. (small capitals)	intravenous
CoA	coenzyme A	K_m	Michaelis constant
CSF	cerebrospinal fluid	Mg²⁺	magnesium ion
ConA	concanavalin A	MAO	monoamine oxidase
DEAE-cellulose	O-(diethylaminoethyl)-cellulose	mRNA	messenger ribonucleic acid
DNA	deoxyribonucleic acid	NMDA	n-methyl-d-aspartate
EDTA	ethylenediaminetetra-acetate	PAGE	polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
ECF	extracellular fluid	Pi	inorganic phosphate
ECG	electrocardiogram, electrocorticogram	RNA	ribonucleic acid
EEG	electroencephalogram	SD	standard deviation
EGTA	ethyleneglycol-bis-(b-amino-ethyl ether)N,N'-tetra acetic acid	SDS	sodium dodecyl sulfate
		SE	standard error of mean
ELISA	enzyme-linked immonosorbent assay	tRNA	transfer ribonucleic acid
EM	electron microscope	Tris	tris(hydroxymethyl)amonomethane
EMG	electromyogram	TTX	tetrodotoxin
EPSP	excitatory postsynaptic potential	UV	ultraviolet

Table 2. Units Abbreviations

Physical quantity	Unit name	Symbol
area	square meter	m²
length	meter	m
time	day	d
	hour	h
	minute	min
	second	s
	millisecond	ms
	microsecond	ms
volume	liter	l
weight	gram	g
	kilogram	kg
	milligram	mg
	microgram	mg
	nanogram	ng
	picogram	pg
accelerational gravity		× g
energy	joule	J
electric charge	coulomb	C
electric potential difference	volt	V
electric resistance	ohm	W
electric conductance	siemens	S
electric capacitance	farad	F
electric inductance	henry	H
frequency	hertz	Hz
force	Newton	N
illuminance	lux	lx
luminous flux	lumen	lm
magnetic flux	weber	Wb
magnetic induction	tesla	T
molar concentration	molar	M (small capital)
molecular weight	mole	mol
molecular size	dalton	Da
pressure	pascal	Pa
power	watt	W
radioactivity	becquerel	Bq
sound pressure	decibel	dB

Prefixes for decimal multiples and submultiples

kilo	k	10³
mega	M	10⁶
giga	G	10⁹
tera	T	10¹²
deci	d	10^–1
centi	c	10^–2
milli	m	10^–3
micro	m	10^–6
nano	n	10^–9
pico	p	10^–12
femto	f	10^–15