Overview
Clinical Meaning
Percussion generates sound waves by striking the body surface, with the resulting resonance determined by the density and air content of underlying tissues.
AGPCNP
AGPCNP
Percussion generates sound waves by striking the body surface, with the resulting resonance determined by the density and air content of underlying tissues. The five percussion notes are: (1) Tympany — drum-like, highest amplitude, heard over gas-filled organs (stomach, bowel); (2) Hyperresonance — booming, lower pitch, heard over hyperinflated lung (emphysema, pneumothorax); (3) Resonance — normal lung sound, hollow quality; (4) Dullness — thud-like, heard over solid organs (liver, heart) or fluid-filled spaces (pleural effusion, consolidation); (5) Flatness — absolute dullness, heard over dense tissue (muscle, bone). Percussion assessment enables detection of pneumothorax (hyperresonance), pleural effusion (dullness with shifting), consolidation (dullness), ascites (shifting dullness), and organomegaly before imaging is available.
Unlock full lesson + practice questions
4 more sections with scenarios, priorities, and review drills.
Final rapid review before practice
Next study step
Finish the lesson first, then choose a focused activity to apply what you just reviewed.
Continue studying
Sign in to save progress on this lesson.
Unlock the interactive lesson quiz with a plan that includes this AGPCNP pathway. You can still explore topic-filtered questions from the bank hubs below.