ballottement

Thân thiện

A doctor performs ballottement during a prenatal examination.

Definition

Noun: 1. A specific medical examination technique: A diagnostic method in which an examiner uses their fingers to tap or push sharply against a body part (especially the abdomen) and feels for the rebound or floating movement of an internal object or organ. 2. A technique in obstetrics: The specific use of this palpation method to feel the rebound of a fetus within the uterus after a quick, light tap, used to confirm pregnancy or determine fetal position.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor performed ballottement to assess the size and mobility of the abdominal mass.
  • A positive sign of ballottement can help confirm a mid-term pregnancy.

Advanced Usage

• Medical Diagnosis: The technique is primarily used in physical examinations to detect fluid, masses, or floating structures within a body cavity, such as the abdomen or a joint (e.g., knee effusion).
  • Ballottement of the patella is a test for excess fluid in the knee joint.

Variants and Related Words

• Ballotte (verb, rare/technical): To perform the action of ballottement.
  • The obstetrician will ballotte the uterus to feel for fetal movement.

Synonyms

• Rebound tenderness test (in a specific diagnostic context).
• Palpatory technique (general category).

Học thuật

Noun

1. a palpatory technique for feeling a floating object in the body (especially for determining the position of a fetus by feeling the rebound of the fetus after a quick digital tap on the wall of the uterus)