Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

PBC
Primary biliary cirrhosis. See 
cirrhosis, pri-
mary biliary.
p.c.
Post cibum.
Abbreviation meaning after
meals. See also Appendix A, “Prescription
Abbreviations.”
PCL
Posterior cruciate ligament.
PCM
Protein-calorie malnutrition. See 
kwashior-
kor.
PCP
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
PCR
Polymerase chain reaction.
PDA
Patent ductus arteriosus. See 
ductus arte-
riosus.
PDR
1
Physicians’ Desk Reference.
2
Postdelivery room, used as a staging room for the
mother after delivering her baby in the delivery
room.
peak flow meter
A hand-held device that meas-
ures air flow (how fast air is blown out of the lungs
during forced expiration). Patients can use peak
flow meters at home to measure their own air flow
regularly.
pecs
See 
pectoral muscle.
pectoral muscle
One of the muscles of the front
of the upper chest. The pectoral muscles are famil-
iarly known as the pecs and are the muscles under-
neath the breasts. Pectoral muscles are used by the
upper extremities to push objects in front of the
body. For example, these are the muscles that are
exercised in doing the bench press exercise.
pectoralis muscle absence with syndactyly
See 
Poland syndrome.
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pectus carinatum
See 
pigeon breast.
pectus excavatum
See 
funnel chest.