Palpation
Palpation is examination of the body by touch to assess features such as shape, tenderness, temperature, texture, or movement.
Abdominal examination: A clinical assessment of the abdomen using inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Palpation identifies abdominal tenderness, masses, organ enlargement, and guarding.
Superficial palpation: Light pressure applied to the body surface to assess superficial tenderness, texture, or guarding. It provides an initial assessment without compressing deeper structures.
Clinical examination: Assessment of a person's health through history-taking and physical examination. Palpation is one component of the broader bedside assessment.
Inspection (medicine): Examination by observing the body for visible signs such as color, shape, or movement. Inspection uses sight, while palpation detects features through touch.
Physical examination: A systematic assessment of the body using clinical techniques such as inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Palpation findings are interpreted alongside the rest of the examination.
Breast examination: Assessment of breast tissue for changes such as lumps, skin abnormalities, or nipple discharge. Systematic palpation can reveal lumps and changes in breast tissue.
Deep palpation: Firm pressure used to assess deeper organs, masses, or tenderness beneath the body surface. It reaches structures that light touch cannot adequately assess.
Anatomical position: The standardized body posture used as a reference for describing anatomical locations and relationships. A shared reference makes palpated locations precise and comparable.
Percussion (medicine): A diagnostic technique that taps the body and interprets the resulting sound or vibration. Percussion assesses underlying structures through sound rather than direct touch.
Clinical sign: An objective finding observed or elicited during examination that may indicate a health condition. A palpable mass or tender area becomes useful when documented as an observable sign.