GH
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Growth hormone |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical, Geography & Places |
GH has three meanings. The most common are Growth hormone (endocrinology & diabetes) and Glenohumeral (joint) (musculoskeletal & rheumatology); it can also stand for Ghana.
Meanings of GH at a glance
| # | GH stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Growth hormone | Medical › Endocrinology & Diabetes |
| 2 | Glenohumeral (joint) | Medical › Musculoskeletal & Rheumatology |
| 3 | Ghana | Geography & Places › Country Code |
1. Growth hormone
Medical · Endocrinology & Diabetes Abbreviations
Pituitary hormone that drives childhood growth and regulates body composition, fat metabolism and bone in adults, acting largely through IGF-1 made in the liver. Excess causes gigantism or acromegaly; deficiency causes short stature in children and fatigue and fat gain in adults.
Example: Acromegaly suspected: IGF-1 2.5 times normal, GH not suppressed after glucose load.
Also called somatotropin. Recombinant GH replaced pituitary-extracted hormone in 1985 after cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease were linked to cadaver-derived supplies. GH is released in pulses mainly during sleep, so a random level is rarely useful. In orthopedics GH refers to the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint.
2. Glenohumeral (joint)
Medical · Musculoskeletal & Rheumatology Abbreviations
The ball-and-socket shoulder joint between the head of the humerus and the glenoid of the scapula, the most mobile joint in the body and the major joint most often dislocated. Orthopedic notes refer to GH arthritis, GH instability and GH injections.
Example: Recurrent anterior GH dislocation with Bankart lesion; arthroscopic stabilization recommended.
About 95 percent of shoulder dislocations are anterior. Young athletes have high recurrence rates after a first dislocation. GH osteoarthritis is treated with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty when the rotator cuff is intact. In endocrinology GH means growth hormone, an unrelated meaning.
3. Ghana
Geography & Places · Country Code Abbreviations
Ghana, with Accra as its capital, became in 1957 the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence. A major gold and cocoa producer, its alpha-3 code is GHA.
Example: Mobile money transfers to GH are credited in Ghanaian cedis.
Ghana was known as the Gold Coast under British rule. Its first leader, Kwame Nkrumah, was a leading figure of pan-Africanism.
Related abbreviations
More endocrinology & diabetes abbreviations
- FSH – Follicle-stimulating hormone
- GAD – Glutamic acid decarboxylase (autoantibody)
- GD – Graves' disease
- GDM – Gestational diabetes mellitus
- GHD – Growth hormone deficiency
- GMI – Glucose management indicator
- HHNK – Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic state
- HHS – Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
See all 64 endocrinology & diabetes abbreviations →
More musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviations
- FM – Fibromyalgia
- FOOSH – Fall on outstretched hand
- FRAX – Fracture Risk Assessment Tool
- GCA – Giant cell arteritis
- GTPS – Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
- HLA-B27 – Human leukocyte antigen B27
- HNP – Herniated nucleus pulposus
- HO – Heterotopic ossification
See all 71 musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.