It is best to have a firm background when this "fingernail" palpation is used.

The cause of the pain is made evident on inspection and palpation of the interior of the mouth.

Cancer of the cardia cannot be felt by palpation of the abdomen unless the tumor extends down upon the body of the stomach.

The consistence of cancerous tumors of the stomach is nearly always hard, as appreciated by palpation through the abdominal walls.

By palpation the lower border of the liver can perhaps be felt and separated from the tumor in case this belongs to the stomach.

Peristaltic movements may perhaps be appreciated by palpation when they are not evident on inspection.

Palpation of the distended stomach yields an elastic resistance which has been compared to that of an air-cushion.

If a dilated stomach contains considerable fluid and the abdominal walls are yielding, fluctuation may be perceived by palpation.

Palpation may elicit, besides tenderness, points or regions of induration or intumescence.

Palpation or palpatory auscultation occasionally, though very rarely, reveals a peritoneal friction sound (Gerhardt).