Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesTypes of PalpationPalpation in Physical Exams
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Types of Palpation
Palpation in Physical Exams
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Healthcare providers use palpation to determine the following about an organ or body part:
Commonly used to examine theabdomenand chest, palpitation can also be applied to any part of the body, including the mouth, vagina, and anus. By its strictest definition, taking a person’s pulse may be considered a form of palpation.
This article discusses several kinds of palpation assessments and describes the process of palpating during medical examinations.
Thoracic Palpation
Thoracic palpation is typically used to diagnose problems of the chest or spine. It involves the touching of superficial and deep tissues to assess the position of thevertebra, the presence ofedema(swelling) orlymphadenopathy(swollen lymph nodes), or any protrusion in the ribs, sternum, or spinal column.
The palpation may be performed in a seated position or when lying in asupine(face-up) or prone (face-down) position.
Palpation is also helpful in evaluating the function of the heart. The location, size, and force of the cardiac impulse on the chest wall can help determine whether the heart is working normally, and abnormal vibrations can indicate the presence of aheart murmur.
Abdominal Palpation
With abdominal palpation, healthcare providers check for tenderness or masses andother important characteristics that can be felt with the fingers. Some of these include:
Uterine Palpation
Another two-handed palpation procedure is the bimanualpelvic exam,also known as manual uterine palpation. It involves the compression of the lower abdomen with one hand and the palpation of tissues inside the vagina with the fingers of the other hand.
What to Expect During a Pelvic Exam
Breast Palpation
Palpation of the breasts is performed with the flats of the hand and fingers. The procedure is systematic and involves the clockwise assessment of the breast and nipples to check for consistencies and lumps. The nipples themselves would be palpated for elasticity and gently squeezed to check for discharge.
What to Expect During a Breast Exam
Hernial Palpation
Hand and Wrist Palpation
Hand or wrist injuries are typically diagnosed with palpation.The palpation might involve the gentle rotation of a joint as the fingers detect subtle signs such ascrepitus(cracking sounds and sensations), diminishedrange of motion, or increased warmth and swelling indicative ofinflammation.
Similar techniques may be applied to other joints, such as the knee, ankle, elbow, or shoulder.
Dental Palpation
Palpation can be used in dentistryto check for inflammatory conditions likeperiodontitis, the causes of a bite discrepancy (dental occlusion), or the development of atooth abscessororal lesion.
Typically the tip of the finger is used to check for changes in:
The same technique can be used to help diagnosetemporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
A physical examination, along with the review of your medical history, is usually the first step a healthcare provider will take when diagnosing a medical condition or performing a routine physical.
There are four core components of a physical exam. They are not necessarily used on every body part but generally include:
Auscultation of the Chest: Normal and Abnormal Breath Sounds
Summary
Palpation is part of your clinical examination, and your healthcare provider may recommend additional testing depending on what is found during your visit.
A Word From Verywell
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ombregt L. Clinical examination of the thoracic spine. In:A system of orthopaedic medicine. 3rd ed. Ed, Ombregt L. Churchill Livingstone; London; 2013. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-3145-8.00025-9Reuben A.Examination of the abdomen.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken). 2016;7(6):143-150. doi:10.1002/cld.556Hellawell HN, Mostafa AMH, Kyriacou H, Sumal AS, Boyle JR.Abdominal aortic aneurysms part one: epidemiology, presentation and preoperative considerations.Journal of Perioperative Practice. 2021;31(7-8):274-280. doi:10.1177/1750458920954014Expert Panel on Vascular Imaging.ACR Appropriateness Criteria® pulsatile abdominal mass suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm.J Am Coll Radiol. 2017;14(5S):S258-S265. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2017.01.027Evans D, Goldstein S, Loewy A, Altman AD.SOGC committee opinion no. 385-Indications for pelvic examination.J Ob Gyn Canada.2019;41(8):1221-1234. doi:10.1016/j.jogc.2018.12.007Goodson WH, Hunt TK, Plotnik JN, Moore DH.Optimization of clinical breast examination.Am J Med. 2010;123(4):329-34. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.08.023Leblanc KE, Leblanc LL, Leblanc KA.Inguinal hernias: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2013;87(12):844-8.Day CS, Wu WK, Smith CC.Examination of the hand and wrist.N Engl J Med. 2019;380(12):e15. doi:10.1056/NEJMvcm1407111Zakrzewska JM.Differential diagnosis of facial pain and guidelines for management.Br J Anaesth. 2013;111(1):95-104. doi:10.1093/bja/aet125Campbell EW, Lynn CK.The physical examination. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, eds.Clinical methods: the history, physical, and laboratory examinations. Third Edition. Butterworths; 1990:37-39.Additional ReadingBall JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Soloman BS, Stewart RW.Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination, 9th ed.Elsevier. 2019.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ombregt L. Clinical examination of the thoracic spine. In:A system of orthopaedic medicine. 3rd ed. Ed, Ombregt L. Churchill Livingstone; London; 2013. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-3145-8.00025-9Reuben A.Examination of the abdomen.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken). 2016;7(6):143-150. doi:10.1002/cld.556Hellawell HN, Mostafa AMH, Kyriacou H, Sumal AS, Boyle JR.Abdominal aortic aneurysms part one: epidemiology, presentation and preoperative considerations.Journal of Perioperative Practice. 2021;31(7-8):274-280. doi:10.1177/1750458920954014Expert Panel on Vascular Imaging.ACR Appropriateness Criteria® pulsatile abdominal mass suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm.J Am Coll Radiol. 2017;14(5S):S258-S265. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2017.01.027Evans D, Goldstein S, Loewy A, Altman AD.SOGC committee opinion no. 385-Indications for pelvic examination.J Ob Gyn Canada.2019;41(8):1221-1234. doi:10.1016/j.jogc.2018.12.007Goodson WH, Hunt TK, Plotnik JN, Moore DH.Optimization of clinical breast examination.Am J Med. 2010;123(4):329-34. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.08.023Leblanc KE, Leblanc LL, Leblanc KA.Inguinal hernias: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2013;87(12):844-8.Day CS, Wu WK, Smith CC.Examination of the hand and wrist.N Engl J Med. 2019;380(12):e15. doi:10.1056/NEJMvcm1407111Zakrzewska JM.Differential diagnosis of facial pain and guidelines for management.Br J Anaesth. 2013;111(1):95-104. doi:10.1093/bja/aet125Campbell EW, Lynn CK.The physical examination. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, eds.Clinical methods: the history, physical, and laboratory examinations. Third Edition. Butterworths; 1990:37-39.Additional ReadingBall JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Soloman BS, Stewart RW.Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination, 9th ed.Elsevier. 2019.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ombregt L. Clinical examination of the thoracic spine. In:A system of orthopaedic medicine. 3rd ed. Ed, Ombregt L. Churchill Livingstone; London; 2013. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-3145-8.00025-9Reuben A.Examination of the abdomen.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken). 2016;7(6):143-150. doi:10.1002/cld.556Hellawell HN, Mostafa AMH, Kyriacou H, Sumal AS, Boyle JR.Abdominal aortic aneurysms part one: epidemiology, presentation and preoperative considerations.Journal of Perioperative Practice. 2021;31(7-8):274-280. doi:10.1177/1750458920954014Expert Panel on Vascular Imaging.ACR Appropriateness Criteria® pulsatile abdominal mass suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm.J Am Coll Radiol. 2017;14(5S):S258-S265. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2017.01.027Evans D, Goldstein S, Loewy A, Altman AD.SOGC committee opinion no. 385-Indications for pelvic examination.J Ob Gyn Canada.2019;41(8):1221-1234. doi:10.1016/j.jogc.2018.12.007Goodson WH, Hunt TK, Plotnik JN, Moore DH.Optimization of clinical breast examination.Am J Med. 2010;123(4):329-34. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.08.023Leblanc KE, Leblanc LL, Leblanc KA.Inguinal hernias: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2013;87(12):844-8.Day CS, Wu WK, Smith CC.Examination of the hand and wrist.N Engl J Med. 2019;380(12):e15. doi:10.1056/NEJMvcm1407111Zakrzewska JM.Differential diagnosis of facial pain and guidelines for management.Br J Anaesth. 2013;111(1):95-104. doi:10.1093/bja/aet125Campbell EW, Lynn CK.The physical examination. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, eds.Clinical methods: the history, physical, and laboratory examinations. Third Edition. Butterworths; 1990:37-39.
Ombregt L. Clinical examination of the thoracic spine. In:A system of orthopaedic medicine. 3rd ed. Ed, Ombregt L. Churchill Livingstone; London; 2013. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-3145-8.00025-9
Reuben A.Examination of the abdomen.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken). 2016;7(6):143-150. doi:10.1002/cld.556
Hellawell HN, Mostafa AMH, Kyriacou H, Sumal AS, Boyle JR.Abdominal aortic aneurysms part one: epidemiology, presentation and preoperative considerations.Journal of Perioperative Practice. 2021;31(7-8):274-280. doi:10.1177/1750458920954014
Expert Panel on Vascular Imaging.ACR Appropriateness Criteria® pulsatile abdominal mass suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm.J Am Coll Radiol. 2017;14(5S):S258-S265. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2017.01.027
Evans D, Goldstein S, Loewy A, Altman AD.SOGC committee opinion no. 385-Indications for pelvic examination.J Ob Gyn Canada.2019;41(8):1221-1234. doi:10.1016/j.jogc.2018.12.007
Goodson WH, Hunt TK, Plotnik JN, Moore DH.Optimization of clinical breast examination.Am J Med. 2010;123(4):329-34. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.08.023
Leblanc KE, Leblanc LL, Leblanc KA.Inguinal hernias: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2013;87(12):844-8.
Day CS, Wu WK, Smith CC.Examination of the hand and wrist.N Engl J Med. 2019;380(12):e15. doi:10.1056/NEJMvcm1407111
Zakrzewska JM.Differential diagnosis of facial pain and guidelines for management.Br J Anaesth. 2013;111(1):95-104. doi:10.1093/bja/aet125
Campbell EW, Lynn CK.The physical examination. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, eds.Clinical methods: the history, physical, and laboratory examinations. Third Edition. Butterworths; 1990:37-39.
Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Soloman BS, Stewart RW.Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination, 9th ed.Elsevier. 2019.
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