What term describes examining the body by touch to diagnose disease?

What term describes examining the body by touch to diagnose disease?

• A. Auscultation
• B. Palpate
• C. Percussion
• D. Inspect

Answer: (B)

Palpation is the touch-based examination used to assess conditions. To palpate means to examine by touch, feeling for tenderness, masses, organ size, texture, and consistency. This distinguishes it from other bedside techniques: auscultation involves listening with a stethoscope, percussion uses tapping to elicit sounds, and inspection is visual examination. In practice, clinicians use palpation to gather information about what’s beneath the surface, often starting with light touch and then probing deeper as needed. So the term described by the action in the question is to palpate.

Palpation is the touch-based examination used to assess conditions. To palpate means to examine by touch, feeling for tenderness, masses, organ size, texture, and consistency. This distinguishes it from other bedside techniques: auscultation involves listening with a stethoscope, percussion uses tapping to elicit sounds, and inspection is visual examination. In practice, clinicians use palpation to gather information about what’s beneath the surface, often starting with light touch and then probing deeper as needed. So the term described by the action in the question is to palpate.