Palpation

Palpation is 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). Palpation is used by medical doctors, chiropractic doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine, and even acupuncturists and herbalists particularly for thoracic and abdominal examinations, but also for examination of edema and palpation of pulses.

2 kinds of palpation: >light palpation >deep palpation

light palpation- the hands should be warm and nails should be short. the patient should be relax. last to perform the abdominal examination.