Palpation
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Palpation is a method of examination in which the examiner feels an object to determine is size, shape, firmness, or location. Medical doctors, for example, may palpate body parts to check for swelling or disease. Palpation is also used by practitioners of alternative medicine, including chiropractors, acupuncturists, herbalists, doctors of osteopathic medicine, and massage therapists.
Palpation is typically employed for thoracic and abdominal examinations, but can also be used to diagnose edema and measure the pulse. It is used by veterinarians to check animals for pregnancy, and by midwives to determine the position of a foetus.
Palpation should not be confused with palpitation, which is an awareness of the beating of the heart.
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