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Diagnostic percussion: a study of chest-wall motion and the associated tactile sensation

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Abstract

Medical percussion is in daily use as a simple diagnostic technique. Both the sound produced by percussion and the sensation felt on the chest or abdomen yield information on the condition of the part percussed. The sound waveforms have been described previously. Here the acceleration of the percussed chest wall is described and compared with the accompanying sound waveforms. Accepted descriptions of the tactile sensation are discussed in the light of the chest-wall motion observed.

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Author notes

  1. A. Murray

    Present address: Freeman Hospital, University Department of Cardiology, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Physics, University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary, EH3 9YW, Edinburgh, Scotland

    A. Murray & J. M. M. Neilson

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  1. A. Murray
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  2. J. M. M. Neilson
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Murray, A., Neilson, J.M.M. Diagnostic percussion: a study of chest-wall motion and the associated tactile sensation. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 16, 269–273 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02442426

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02442426

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