Nursing 532-Advanced Health Assessment-Week 2
With complete solu on | Rated A+ | 2026
percussion
tapping the person's skin with short, sharp strokes to assess underlying structures
principle of percussion
more air produces louder, deeper, and longer sound; denser area (liver) so er, higher, shorter
sound
amplitude
(or intensity) how loud or so a sound is
dura on
the length of me a note lingers
opthalmoscope
an instrument that illuminates the internal eye structures, enabling the examiner to look
through the pupil at the fundus (background) of the eye
otoscope
an instrument that illuminates the ear canal, enabling the examiner to look at the ear canal and
tympanic membrane
pitch
(or frequency) the number of vibra ons (or cycles) per second of a note
quality
(or mbre) a subjec ve difference in a sound as a result of the sound's dis nc ve overtones
inspec on
concentrated watching, first at person as a whole then each body system
palpa on
, an examina on technique in which the examiner's hands are used to feel the texture, size,
consistency, and loca on of certain body parts
palpa on - finger ps
best for fine tac le discrimina on of skin texture, swelling, pulsa on, determining presence of
lumps
palpa on -grasping ac on of the fingers and thumb
detect posi on, shape, and consistency of an organ or mass
palpa on- dorsa (backs) of hands and fingers
best for determining temperature because skin here is thinner than on palms
palpa on - base of fingers or ulnar surface of hand
best for vibra on
striking hand
Use the middle finger of your dominant hand as the striking finger
sta onary hand
hyperextend the middle finger and place its distal por on firmly against the person's skin.
basic principle of percussion
A structure with more air (lungs) produces a longer, deeper sound because it vibrates freely. A
denser, more solid structure (liver) produces a shorter, higher, so er sound because it does not
vibrate as freely.
resonant
Amplitude: Medium-Loud
Pitch: low
Quality: clear, hollow
Dura on: moderate
Sample Loca on: over normal lung ssue
hyperressonant
Amplitude: louder
Pitch: lower
Quality: booming
With complete solu on | Rated A+ | 2026
percussion
tapping the person's skin with short, sharp strokes to assess underlying structures
principle of percussion
more air produces louder, deeper, and longer sound; denser area (liver) so er, higher, shorter
sound
amplitude
(or intensity) how loud or so a sound is
dura on
the length of me a note lingers
opthalmoscope
an instrument that illuminates the internal eye structures, enabling the examiner to look
through the pupil at the fundus (background) of the eye
otoscope
an instrument that illuminates the ear canal, enabling the examiner to look at the ear canal and
tympanic membrane
pitch
(or frequency) the number of vibra ons (or cycles) per second of a note
quality
(or mbre) a subjec ve difference in a sound as a result of the sound's dis nc ve overtones
inspec on
concentrated watching, first at person as a whole then each body system
palpa on
, an examina on technique in which the examiner's hands are used to feel the texture, size,
consistency, and loca on of certain body parts
palpa on - finger ps
best for fine tac le discrimina on of skin texture, swelling, pulsa on, determining presence of
lumps
palpa on -grasping ac on of the fingers and thumb
detect posi on, shape, and consistency of an organ or mass
palpa on- dorsa (backs) of hands and fingers
best for determining temperature because skin here is thinner than on palms
palpa on - base of fingers or ulnar surface of hand
best for vibra on
striking hand
Use the middle finger of your dominant hand as the striking finger
sta onary hand
hyperextend the middle finger and place its distal por on firmly against the person's skin.
basic principle of percussion
A structure with more air (lungs) produces a longer, deeper sound because it vibrates freely. A
denser, more solid structure (liver) produces a shorter, higher, so er sound because it does not
vibrate as freely.
resonant
Amplitude: Medium-Loud
Pitch: low
Quality: clear, hollow
Dura on: moderate
Sample Loca on: over normal lung ssue
hyperressonant
Amplitude: louder
Pitch: lower
Quality: booming
