PALPATION

palpation, tactual exploration

(noun) a method of examination in which the examiner feels the size or shape or firmness or location of something (of body parts when the examiner is a health professional)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

palpation (countable and uncountable, plural palpations)

(medicine) The act of feeling or pushing on various parts of a patient’s body to determine medical condition such as the normality of organs or the presence or absence of tumors, swelling, muscle tension, etc.

Source: Wiktionary

Pal*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. palpatio, fr. palpare. See Palpable.]

1. Act of touching or feeling.

2. (Med.)

Definition: Examination of a patient by touch. Quain.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition