Dictionary Definition
palpate v : examine (a body part) by palpation;
"The nurse palpated the patient's stomach"; "The runner felt her
pulse" [syn: feel]
User Contributed Dictionary
Pronunciation
- , /ˈpælpeɪt/, /"p
Extensive Definition
Palpation is used as part of a
physical
examination in which an object is felt (usually with the hands
of a healthcare
practitioner) to determine its size, shape, firmness, or location.
Palpation should not be confused with palpitation, which is an
awareness of the beating of the heart.
Uses
Palpation is used by various therapists such as Chiropractors, practitioners of osteopathic medicine, physical therapists, and massage therapists, to asses the texture of a patient's tissue (such as swelling or muscle tone), assess range and quality of joint motion, and assess tenderness through tissue deformation (e.g. provoking pain with pressure or stretching). The scientific literature has shown that motion palpation is often unreliable between practitioners. In contrast, manual tests that provoke or relieve pain have been shown to be more reliable.Palpation is typically used
for thoracic
and abdominal
examinations, and this but can also be used to diagnose edema and to measure the pulse. It is used by veterinarians to check
animals for pregnancy,
and by midwives to
determine the position of a fetus.
See also
References
palpate in German:
Palpation
palpate in Indonesian:
Palpasi
palpate in Dutch:
Palpatie
palpate in Polish:
Palpacja
palpate in Russian:
Пальпация
palpate in Swedish:
Palpation