ORTHOPERCUSSION Meaning and
Definition
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Orthopercussion is a medical term that refers to a diagnostic technique used to evaluate the condition of the lungs during a physical examination. It involves tapping the chest with the fingers or a percussion hammer in order to produce different sounds that can provide insight into the underlying respiratory health of an individual.
During orthopercussion, a physician or healthcare professional taps or strikes various areas of the chest wall while the patient is in different positions, such as standing, sitting, or lying down. The goal is to elicit specific sounds that can indicate the presence or absence of certain lung conditions.
When healthy lung tissue is percussed, a specific resonant sound is produced called resonance. This indicates normal air-filled lung tissue. However, abnormal lung conditions, such as pneumonia or areas of fluid accumulation, may create a dull or flat sound known as dullness. This could suggest a more solid or liquid-filled area rather than air-filled lung tissue.
Orthopercussion is typically conducted in comparison to the adjacent or symmetrical areas of the chest to determine any differences in sound and identify potential abnormalities. It is often performed in conjunction with other diagnostic techniques such as auscultation (listening to lung sounds), physical examination, and radiological imaging to help assess and monitor respiratory health.
Overall, orthopercussion serves as a valuable tool in the evaluation of respiratory conditions, providing clinicians with additional information to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning for patients.
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Very light percussion of the chest, made in a sagittal direction (i.e. antero-posteriorly, and not perpendicularly to the wall of the chest) by one finger striking the knuckle of the pleximeter finger bent at a right angle, the impact being transmitted through the two phalanges (middle and distal) to the tip of the finger resting in an intercostal space; it is employed to determine the size of the heart, the faint percussion sound disappearing when the heart is reached even though that may be overlapped by a layer of the lung; called also Goldscheider's method.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ORTHOPERCUSSION
- irthopercussion
- krthopercussion
- lrthopercussion
- prthopercussion
- 0rthopercussion
- 9rthopercussion
- oethopercussion
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- ofthopercussion
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- oryhopercussion
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- or5hopercussion
- ortgopercussion
- ortbopercussion
Etymology of ORTHOPERCUSSION
The word "orthopercussion" is derived from two main components: "ortho-" and "percussion".
1. "Ortho-" is derived from the Greek word "orthos", meaning "straight" or "correct". It is commonly used as a prefix in medical and scientific terminology to indicate something that is in the correct or normal position or state. In this context, "ortho-" refers to the correct positioning or alignment of the body or musculoskeletal system.
2. "Percussion" comes from the Latin word "percussio", which means "a beating" or "striking". In the medical field, percussion refers to a diagnostic technique of tapping the body or parts of the body to produce specific sounds that can help evaluate the underlying structures or conditions.
Similar spelling word for ORTHOPERCUSSION
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