What is palpation?

Palpation refers to the process of feeling a part of the body with the hands to assess its condition. This technique is commonly used by healthcare providers during physical examinations to gather information about the size, shape, texture, tenderness, and underlying structures of an organ or tissue. For instance, a medical assistant might palpate the abdomen to check for any abnormalities such as tumors or fluid accumulation.

Other methodologies mentioned, such as auscultation (listening to body sounds) and visual examination (observing organs), serve distinct diagnostic purposes but do not involve the tactile feedback that palpation provides. Measuring blood pressure is a separate physiological assessment that requires specific devices and techniques to gauge the force of blood against the walls of arteries and is unrelated to the tactile examination that palpation entails. Thus, palpation is essential for providing a comprehensive assessment of a patient's physical health when directly feeling areas of concern.