noun
percussion
Examination of underlying body tissue by tapping the surface.
The doctor uses percussion to check for fluid around the lungs.
Etymology
Latin percussio means striking. The medical technique uses controlled tapping to produce sounds that help reveal the condition of underlying tissue.
More examples
- Percussion produces a duller sound over solid tissue than over air.
- During the abdominal exam, the doctor uses percussion to assess liver size.
- The student compares percussion sounds on both sides of the chest.
Forms
percussion
percuss verb — Examine underlying body tissue by tapping.
Similar words
- tapping
- Describes the physical action, not necessarily a medical examination.