MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Percussion

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Percussion

Percussion is a method of "tapping" on body parts during a physical examination with fingers, hands, or small instruments to evaluate the size, consistency, borders and presence or absence of fluid in body organs.

Update Date: 1/22/2007

Updated by: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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