Non-dominant hand: With your hand parallel to the body, place the distal interphalangeal joint of the pleximeter (middle) finger of your non-dominant hand firmly on the body region to percuss.The steps of this technique are as follows: Indirect percussion is often used to assess the lungs and the abdomen (e.g., bowels, bladder, liver). See Figure 1.8 demonstrating the technique of indirect percussion.įigure 1.8: Indirect percussion technique There are three approaches to percussion, but the most widely used is indirect percussion, which is the application of a mediated force using parts of both of your hands. Percussion can also help reveal the presence of masses, particularly if they are close to the surface of the body.

Fluid filled (e.g., bladder and stomach).

For example, the percussion sounds can tell you if the organ is: This concept also applies to the body.Įach body part that you percuss provides information about the consistency as well as the size and borders of the underlying structure. As you tap these surfaces, you can hear that each surface elicits a different sound based on the object’s consistency. Try tapping different surfaces with your fingertips and compare the sounds: a firm hard surface like a wood desk or table, a thick textbook, a window, or even a drum. Percussion involves tapping the body to elicit sounds and determining whether the sounds are appropriate for a particular organ or area of the body.

Lung sound locations