Palpation

Palpation is a method of examination in which the examiner feels the size or shape or firmness or location of something (of body parts when the examiner is a health professional). Palpation is used by medical doctors and chiropractic doctors for particularly for thoracic and abdominal examinations, but also for examination of edema and palpation of pulses.

See also:

• Physical examination
• Inspection (medicine)
• Percussion (medicine)
• Auscultation