What is an example of percussion in medical terms?

Percussion is most commonly used on the chest and back for examination of the heart and lungs. For example, since the heart is not resonant and the adjacent lungs are, when the examiner’s fingers strike the chest over the heart the sound waves will change in pitch.

What is a normal percussion?

Resonant sounds are low pitched, hollow sounds heard over normal lung tissue. Flat or extremely dull sounds are normally heard over solid areas such as bones. Dull or thudlike sounds are normally heard over dense areas such as the heart or liver.

What is percussion used for in nursing?

Percussion Percussion involves tapping your fingers or hands quickly and sharply against parts of the patient’s body to help you locate organ borders, identify organ shape and position, and determine if an organ is solid or filled with fluid or gas.

How do you get a percussion in your stomach?

Abdominal Percussion

1. Start just below the right breast in a line with the middle of the clavicle, a point that you are reasonably certain is over the lungs.
2. Move your hand down a few centimeters and repeat.
3. Continue your march downward until the sound changes once again.

What is the appropriate procedure when the nurse is performing percussion?

The nurse performs direct percussion by tapping the fingers directly on the patient’s skin, such as for assessment of the sinuses.

What are the 5 percussion tones?

There are five common terms used to describe percussion notes in the physical examination: tympanitic, hyperresonant, resonant, dull, and flat.

What does the percussion test check for?

In the percussion test, the dentist is looking to replicate your pain on biting down. They will apply pressure the occlusal, or chewing, surface of the teeth, first with their finger and then with the handle end of an instrument.

Why does a doctor tap his fingers on your stomach?

Pressing on your stomach is a way to find out if the size of your internal organs is normal, to check if anything hurts, and to feel if anything unusual is going on. Looking, listening, and feeling are all part of a physical exam.

What does percussion of the abdomen tell you?

In addition to detection of ascites, percussion can be used to help define the nature of an abdominal mass. Tympany of an abdominal mass implies that it is gas filled (i.e., intestine). Percussion is also used to define liver size.

Which areas should the nurse avoid when Percussing a patient’s chest?

Percussion must be avoided on floating ribs as they have single attachment. Patient may be taught to self percuss with one hand over the areas which are reachable. Percussion should not be done over breast tissue as this would produce discomfort and also would reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.