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Palpation: meaning, definitions and examples

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palpation

 

[ pælˈpeɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medical examination

Palpation is a technique used by healthcare providers to examine the body through the sense of touch. It can include feeling the size, shape, firmness, or location of body parts and is often used to assess pain, tenderness or swelling. This method is fundamental in diagnosing various medical conditions and assessing the health of patients.

Synonyms

physical assessment, touch examination

Examples of usage

  • The doctor performed palpation on the abdomen to check for any abnormalities.
  • During the physical examination, palpation was used to evaluate the patient’s lymph nodes.
  • Palpation revealed a tender area in the shoulder, suggesting possible inflammation.

Translations

Translations of the word "palpation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 palpação

🇮🇳 स्पर्श (sparsh)

🇩🇪 Palpation

🇮🇩 palpasi

🇺🇦 пальпація

🇵🇱 palpacja

🇯🇵 触診 (しょくしん, shokushin)

🇫🇷 palpation

🇪🇸 palpación

🇹🇷 palpasyon

🇰🇷 촉진 (촉진, chogjin)

🇸🇦 التحسس (al-tahassus)

🇨🇿 palpace

🇸🇰 palpácia

🇨🇳 触诊 (chùzhěn)

🇸🇮 palpacijo

🇮🇸 palpation

🇰🇿 палпация (palpatsiya)

🇬🇪 პალპაცია (palpatsia)

🇦🇿 palpasiya

🇲🇽 palpación

Etymology

The word 'palpation' comes from the Latin word 'palpare', which means 'to touch or stroke'. This Latin origin emphasizes the direct interaction between the examiner and the patient in the process of diagnosing medical conditions. Over time, palpation has evolved as a critical component of physical examinations and is extensively taught in medical education. By the late 19th century, palpation became widely recognized in the professional healthcare community as an essential practice, and its techniques are still an integral part of clinical assessments today.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,663, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.