METRIC SYSTEM

The metric system is a system of measurement that uses the meter, liter, and gram as
base units of length (distance), capacity (volume), and weight (mass) respectively. 
 
To measure smaller or larger quantities, we use units derived from the metric units
 

 
 The given figure shows the arrangement of the metric units, which are smaller or
bigger than the base unit.
 The units to the right of the base unit are smaller than the base unit. As we move
to the right, each unit is 10 times smaller or one-tenth of the unit to its left. So, a
‘deci’ means one-tenth of the base unit, ‘centi’ is one-tenth of ‘deci’ or one-hundredth
of the base unit and ‘milli’ is one-tenth of ‘centi’ or one-thousandth of the base unit.
 The units to the left of the base unit are bigger than the base unit. As we move to
the left, each unit is 10 times greater than the unit to its right. So, a ‘deca’ means ten
times of the base unit, ‘hecto’ is ten times of ‘deca’ or hundred times of the base unit
and ‘killo’ is ten times of ‘hecto’ or thousand times of the base unit.
 

 Kilo   Hecto   Deca   Base Unit   Deci   Centi   Milli 

 1000   100   10   1   1/10   1/100   1/1000 

 
So, the units for length, weight (mass) and capacity (volume) in the metric system are:
 
Length: Millimeter (mm), Decimeter (dm), Centimeter (cm), Meter (m), and Kilometer
(km) are used to measure how long or wide or tall an object is.
Examples include measuring the thickness or length of debit card, length of cloth, or
distance between two cities. 
 
 Kilometer   Hectometer   Decameter   Meter   Decimeter   Centimeter   Millimeter 
 (km)   (hm)   (dam)   (m)   (dm)   (cm)   (mm) 
 1000   100   10   1   1/10   1/100   1/1000 
  
 
Weight: Gram (g) and Kilogram(kg) are used to measure how heavy an object, using
instruments.
Examples include measuring weight of fruits or, our own body weight. 
 
 Kilogram   Hectogram   Decagram   Gram   Decigram   Centigram   Milligram 
 (kg)   (hg)   (dag)   (g)   (dg)   (cg)   (mg) 
 1000   100   10   1   1/10   1/100   1/1000 
 
 
Capacity: Milliliter (ml) and Liter (l) are used to measure how much quantity of liquid an
object can hold.
Examples include measuring the amount of juice in a juice can, or amount of water of in
a water tank. 
 
 Kiloliter   Hectoliter   Decaliter   Liter   Deciliter   Centiliter   Milliliter 
 (kl)   (hl)   (dal)   (l)   (dl)   (cl)   (ml) 
 1000   100   10   1   1/10   1/100   1/1000 
 
 
Time: Second is the base unit for time. The other metric units of time are: 
 

 
Metric Conversions: Meters, grams and liters are considered the base units of length,
weight and volume, respectively. 
 
Here’s how we can multiply or divide for making metric conversions. To convert a bigger
unit to the smaller unit, we move left to write, we multiple by 10. Moving right to left,
from smaller unit to bigger, we divide by 10.

Let us look at some examples of converting from one unit to another.

Example 1: Convert 5 km to m.
As 1 km = 1000 m
Therefore, 5 km = 5 × 1000 = 5000 m

 
Example 2: Convert 250 kg to milligrams.
We know, 1 g = 1000 mg and 1 kg = 1000 g
So, we first convert the kg to g as:
1 kg = 1000 g
Therefore, 250 kg = 250 × 1000 g = 250,000 g
Now, converting g to mg:
1 g = 1000 mg, therefore: 250,000 g = 250,000 × 1000 mg = 250,000,000 mg
 
Example 3: Convert 250 ml to liters.
1 liter = 1000 ml
Therefore, 450 ml = 450 ÷ 1000 = 0.45 liter
 
The US Standard Units or the Customary System uses customary units.
This system measures:
 Length or distance in inches, feet, yards, and miles.
 Capacity or volume in fluid ounces, cups, pints, quarts or gallons.
 Weight or mass in ounces, pounds and tons.

APOTHECARIES’ SYSTEM

The Apothecaries' system is no longer as widely used as it once was, but it's still considered one of the
standard systems of weights and measures.

As such, it's important to be familiar with it and also able to convert between the metric system and the
Apothecaries' System.

When dealing with weight, the Apothecaries' system uses pounds, ounces, drachms, scruples and grains.

Here are the appropriate conversions within the Apothecaries' System:

1 pound = 12 ounces

1 ounces = 8 drachms

1 drachm = 3 scruples

1 scruple = 20 grains
As you can see, the first big difference is that a pound contains 12 ounces, instead of 16. Here are a few
more conversions of various units within the Apothecaries' System:

1 pound = 96 drachms

1 ounce = 24 scruples

1 drachm = 60 grains

1 ounce = 480 grains

The easiest way to memorize the units is just to work with them a little bit. Pick a random unit and a
random number and the break it down into the smaller units, and convert it up into larger units. If you
picked 4 ounces for example:

4 ounces = 96 scruples

4 ounces= 1920 grains

4 ounces = 32 scruples

4 ounces = 1/3rd of one pound

For measurements of volume, the Apothecaries' System uses the following units: liquid pints, fluid
ounces, fluid drams, fluid scruples and the minim.

1 liquid pint = 16 fluid ounces

1 fluid ounce = 8 fluid drams

1 fluid dram = 3 fluid scruples

1 fluid scruple = 20 minim

Aside from the pint once again being 16 ounces instead of 12, the rest of the units break down and
convert at the same rate as the measure of weight. Again, the fastest way to learn and become familiar
with these terms is to practice using them.

Here are the conversions from the Apothecaries' System to metric measurements:

1 pound = 373 grams

1 ounce = 31.1 grams

1 drachm = 3.89 grams

1 scruple = 1.296 grams

1 grain = 64.8 milligrams

1 liquid pint = 473 milliliters

1 fluid ounce = 29.6 milliliters

1 fluid dram = 3.7 milliliters

1 fluid scruple = 1.23 milliliters

1 minim = 0.062 milliliter

With a little patience and a bit of practice, it's easy to become familiar with the Apothecaries' System of
weights and measurement.

Just remember that the pound has 12 ounces but the pint has 16 fluid ounces and the rest is pretty easy.

An ounce is always broken down into 8 drachms or drams (liquid) and the next step is into 3 scruples.
And then the smallest unit is always 20 grains/minim to make a scruple.

Good luck and remember to always take the time to double check any conversions you make when
working as a Pharmacy Technician.

Every measurement is important and it's worth taking the extra moment to ensure accuracy.

Although the household measurement system is used in homes, it is the least precise and
exact of all the measurement systems. For this reason, the household measurement
system is rarely used in our health care facilities but it is sometimes used for prescription
that will be taken in the home after hospitalization.
The household measurement system is the system that most of us use at home, usually in
the kitchen. The household system uses measurements for drops, teaspoons, tablespoons,
ounces, cups, pints, quart, gallons, and pounds.

There are some similarities and differences between the household system of
measurements and the apothecary system of measurements. For example, a fluid ounce is
the same for both the household system of measurements and the apothecary system of
measurement. There are some differences as well; for example, the pound that is used to
determine weight is different between these systems. In the apothecary system, there are
twelve (12) ounces in a pound, and, in the household system of measurements there are
sixteen (16) ounces, and not twelve (12) ounces, in the household system of
measurements.
Below is a table that displays household units of measurement and their approximate
equivalents in another measurement system, such as the apothecary and the metric
measurement systems. It is necessary that you memorize these equivalents so that you
will be able to convert from one measurement system to another.

UNIT OF MEASUREMENT APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENT(S)

1 teaspoon 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon

1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons

1 liquid ounce 1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons

1 ounce (weight) 16 ounces = 1 pound

1 cup 1 cup = 8 ounces

1 cup = 16 tablespoons

1 pint 1 pint = 2 cups

1 quart 1 quart = 2 pints

1 quart = 4 cups

1 gallon 1 gallon = 4 quarts

1 gallon = 8 pints

1 pound 1 pound = 16 ounces

Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms,
and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health
condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been
ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and
terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of
medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't
understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure
orders. Examples include:

 ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no
evidence of disease.
 ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
 cap: Capsule.
 CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
 DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
 DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
 HA: Headache
 IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal
(BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
 JT: Joint
 N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
 p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
 q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
 RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
 SOB: Shortness of breath.
 T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is
one of the "vital signs."