Which abbreviation means "after"?

Which abbreviation means "after"?

• A. PC
• B. PO
• C. P
• D. PE

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is the Latin root post meaning after. In medical shorthand, a simple P is used to denote “after” in general, so this single-letter abbreviation best fits the prompt asking for “after.” The other forms are more specific or unrelated: PC stands for post cibum, meaning after meals, which narrows the meaning to a meal context; PO means by mouth (per os), describing how a drug is taken rather than when; and PE usually stands for physical examination (or in some contexts pulmonary embolism), not after. So the single-letter P is the appropriate general shorthand for after.

The key idea here is the Latin root post meaning after. In medical shorthand, a simple P is used to denote “after” in general, so this single-letter abbreviation best fits the prompt asking for “after.” The other forms are more specific or unrelated: PC stands for post cibum, meaning after meals, which narrows the meaning to a meal context; PO means by mouth (per os), describing how a drug is taken rather than when; and PE usually stands for physical examination (or in some contexts pulmonary embolism), not after. So the single-letter P is the appropriate general shorthand for after.