This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages without signing in

Palpation

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Palpation is used to determine five main clinical signs:

  • the presence of lymphadenopathy:
    • cervical and supraclavicular lymph nodes are particularly significant

  • the position of the trachea:
    • the trachea should be palpated deep in the supraclavicular notch to determine the position of the upper mediastinum
    • the index finger is pressed deep in the suprasternal notch in the midline, if the trachea is not felt then the finger is inserted to one side or the other

  • tracheal tug:
    • the distance between the suprasternal notch and the cricoid cartilage is normally 2-3 fingers breadths
    • a reduction in this distance, particularly on inspiration is a reliable sign of hyperinflation

  • chest expansion:
  • the examiner places the hands on either side of the chest over the upper and then lower zones
  • observing the movement of the hands during respiration may demonstrate asymetrical expansion of the chest

  • tactile vocal fremitus

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.