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Percussion is a method of tapping body parts with fingers, hands, or small instruments as part of a physical examination. It is done to determine:
- The size, consistency, and borders of body organs
- The presence or absence of fluid in body areas
Percussion of a body part produces a sound, like playing a drum. The sound is a sign of the type of tissue within the body part or organ.
- Lungs sound hollow on percussion because they are filled with air.
- Bones, joints, and solid organs such as the liver sound solid.
- The abdomen sounds like a hollow organ filled with air, fluid, or solids.
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