How Do You Spell PALPATORY PERCUSSION?

1. Palpatory percussion is a diagnostic technique used in medicine, primarily by doctors and other healthcare providers, to evaluate the condition of various organs and structures within the body. It involves the combined use of palpation (touching and feeling) and percussion (tapping) to gather information about the characteristics, size, and response of the organs.

   During palpatory percussion, the healthcare provider applies gentle pressure with their fingertips or hands to palpate specific areas of the body. This enables them to assess the density, tenderness, and mobility of underlying structures, such as muscles, bones, and organs. Additionally, they may use their fingers or a specialized percussion hammer to tap on certain areas, listening and feeling for the resulting vibrations and sounds produced.

   The purpose of palpatory percussion is to aid in the detection of abnormalities, such as enlarged organs, fluid accumulation, tumors, or abnormal masses. It can also help distinguish between normal and abnormal organ borders and provide information about the presence of inflammation or infection.

   This technique is commonly used in physical examinations, particularly when assessing the abdomen, chest, and back. It requires skill, knowledge, and experience to accurately interpret the observed findings. Palpatory percussion is considered a valuable tool to supplement other diagnostic methods such as auscultation (listening to internal sounds) or imaging techniques like X-rays, ultrasounds, or CT scans, allowing healthcare providers to gather a comprehensive understanding of a patient's condition.

2. Finger p. in which the attention is fixed upon the resistance of the tissues under the finger as well as upon the sound elicited.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PALPATORY PERCUSSION

The word "palpatory" is derived from the Latin word "palpare", which means "to stroke" or "to touch gently". It is related to the noun "palpation", which refers to the act of examining or diagnosing by touch, typically with the fingers or hands.

The word "percussion" originates from the Latin word "percussio", which means "a striking" or "a blow". It is related to the verb "percutere", which means "to strike through".

In the medical context, "palpatory percussion" describes a diagnostic technique that involves using both touch and percussion. It typically refers to the act of applying pressure with the fingers or hands to a patient's body in order to perceive vibrations, sounds, or other diagnostic indicators.