Health Care Encyclopedia
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PercussionDefinition: Percussion is a method of tapping body parts with fingers, hands, or small instruments as part of a physical examination. The purpose is to evaluate the size, consistency, borders, and presence or absence of fluid in body organs. Percussion of a body part produces a sound -- like playing a drum -- that indicates the type of tissue within the organ: - Lungs sound hollow on percussion because they are filled with air.
- Bones and joints sound solid.
- The abdomen sounds like a hollow organ filled with air, fluid, or solids.
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| Review Date: 2/9/2005
Reviewed By: Thomas A. Owens, M.D., Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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