percuss
/pəˈkʌs
/verb [with object] Medicine
Gently tap (a part of the body) with a finger or an instrument as part of a diagnosis: the bladder was percussed...
- Accordingly, when percussing a patient's abdomen in the presence of ascites, areas of dullness and tympany should shift depending on whether the patient is lying supine or on his or her side.
- Palpate the chest for subcutaneous emphysema and crepitus, and percuss for dullness, an indication of consolidations or effusions.
- At each setting, the practitioner would percuss the reagent's abdomen to determine the areas of dullness.
Origin
Mid 16th century (in the general sense 'give a blow to'): from Latin percuss- 'struck forcibly', from the verb percutere, from per- 'through' + quatere 'to shake, strike'.