SMA
Abbreviation with 5 meanings
| Stands for | Spinal muscular atrophy |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 5 |
| Categories | Medical, Military, Business & Finance |
SMA has five meanings. The most common are Spinal muscular atrophy (neurology) and Sergeant Major of the Army (US Army rank); it can also stand for Superior mesenteric artery, Separately managed account and Simple moving average.
Meanings of SMA at a glance
| # | SMA stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spinal muscular atrophy | Medical › Neurology |
| 2 | Sergeant Major of the Army | Military › US Army Rank |
| 3 | Superior mesenteric artery | Medical › Anatomy |
| 4 | Separately managed account | Business & Finance › Stock Market & Investing |
| 5 | Simple moving average | Business & Finance › Stock Market & Investing |
1. Spinal muscular atrophy
Medical · Neurology Abbreviations
Inherited disease, usually from deletions in the SMN1 gene, in which motor neurons in the spinal cord degenerate, causing progressive muscle weakness and wasting. Type 1, beginning in infancy, was historically the leading genetic cause of infant death.
Example: Newborn screen positive for SMA, two SMN2 copies; gene therapy scheduled before symptom onset.
Three disease-modifying treatments transformed the outlook: nusinersen (2016), onasemnogene abeparvovec gene therapy (2019) and oral risdiplam (2020). SMA was added to the US Recommended Uniform Screening Panel for newborns in 2018 because treatment works best before symptoms appear. The number of backup SMN2 gene copies predicts severity. In gastroenterology SMA means superior mesenteric artery.
2. Sergeant Major of the Army
Military · US Army Rank Abbreviations
Most senior enlisted position in the US Army, held by one soldier who advises the Army chief of staff and the secretary of the Army on all enlisted matters. The SMA wears a unique insignia showing the US coat of arms between two stars beneath the chevrons and rockers.
Example: The SMA toured the barracks renovation project and listened to junior soldiers' housing complaints.
The office was created in 1966, and William O. Wooldridge was the first SMA. Each service has a counterpart: the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard and Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force. The SMA draws special pay above the E-9 scale.
3. Superior mesenteric artery
Medical · Anatomy Abbreviations
Major branch of the abdominal aorta, arising just below the celiac trunk, that supplies the small intestine from the distal duodenum through roughly the proximal two-thirds of the transverse colon. Sudden blockage causes acute mesenteric ischemia, a surgical emergency.
Example: CTA: abrupt cutoff of the SMA 3 cm from its origin; acute mesenteric ischemia.
Pain out of proportion to exam findings is the classic early sign of SMA embolism. In SMA syndrome, the artery compresses the third part of the duodenum, typically after rapid weight loss. In neurology SMA means spinal muscular atrophy, and in pathology smooth muscle actin.
4. Separately managed account
Business & Finance · Stock Market & Investing Abbreviations
Investment portfolio managed by a professional firm for a single investor, who owns the individual securities directly rather than shares of a pooled fund. SMAs allow customization, such as excluding certain stocks or harvesting tax losses.
Example: Clients with more than $250,000 can move into an SMA that excludes fossil-fuel stocks.
SMAs are offered through wealth managers and brokerage platforms, often with minimums starting around $100,000. Direct indexing, which replicates an index with individual stocks held in an SMA, has grown quickly because of its tax benefits. Fees are usually higher than for index funds.
5. Simple moving average
Business & Finance · Stock Market & Investing Abbreviations
Moving average calculated by adding an asset's closing prices over a set number of periods and dividing by that number, giving each price equal weight. Common lengths include the 20-, 50- and 200-day SMAs.
Example: Bitcoin's 50-day SMA crossed above its 200-day SMA, forming a golden cross.
Because every price in the window counts equally, an SMA reacts more slowly to new information than an EMA. Charting platforms usually offer it as the default moving average. In wealth management, SMA means separately managed account, so check whether the context is charts or portfolios.
Related abbreviations
More neurology abbreviations
- SAH – Subarachnoid hemorrhage
- SCI – Spinal cord injury
- SDH – Subdural hematoma
- SE – Status epilepticus
- SPMS – Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
- SRS – Stereotactic radiosurgery
- SSEP – Somatosensory evoked potentials
- SUDEP – Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
See all 131 neurology abbreviations →
More US Army rank abbreviations
- PVT – Private (US Army)
- SFC – Sergeant First Class
- SGM – Sergeant Major
- SGT – Sergeant (US Army)
- SP4 – Specialist 4
- SP5 – Specialist 5
- SPC – Specialist
- SSG – Staff Sergeant (US Army)
See all 34 US Army rank abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.