Central hospital Nursing Institute

Nilufa Yesmin
B.Sc. in Nursing (RANC)
Nursing Instructor(CHNI)
PALPATION
 Definition of Palpation:
Examination by touch is called palpation. The
nurses feels for texture, size, consistency, and
location of body parts.
Or,
Palpation is the examination of the body using
the sense of the touse. The pads of the fingers
are used because their concentration of nerve
endings makes them highly sensitive to tactile
discrimination.
 Characteristics of palpation:

1.Texture:Rough /smooth.
2.Temperature:Warm /cold.
3.Moisture:Dry /wet.
4.Mobility:Fixed/movable/still/vibrating.
5.Consistency:Soft/hard/fluid filled.
6.Strength of pulses: strong/weak/thread/bounding.
7.Size:Small/medium/large.
8.Shape:Well defined/ irregular. And
9.Degree of tenderness.
 Principles for accurate palpation:
1. Examiner finger nails should be short.
2. Us sensitive part of the hand.
3. Light palpation precedes deep palpation.
4. Start with light then deep palpation.
5. Tender area are palpated last.
6. Tel client to take slow deep breath to enhance
muscle relaxation.
7. Examine condition of the abdominal organs.
 Continue…
8. Depressed areas must be approximately
“2 cm”.
9. Assess turgor of skin measured by lightly
grasping the body part with finger tips.

Types of Palpation:
1. Light and
2. Deep palpation
 Light palpation:
Light palpation is used to feel abnormalities
that are on the surface usually pressing
down 1–2 centimeters.

Figure: Light palpation

 Deep palpation
Deep palpation is used to feel internal organs and
masses, usually pressing down 4-5 centimeters. Light
ballottement is used to detect fluid in a body part.

Figure: Deep palpation.

Thank You.