Topic 23 - Percussion of the thorax. The origin, characteristics and parts of the percussion sound. Normal percussion sound of the thorax.

Question 1

Methods for thoracic percussion:

Answer 1

• Finger to finer (in small animals)
• With plessimeter and percussion hammer (in larger animals)

Question 2

Indications for performing percussion of the thorax:

Answer 2

1. Determine the caudal border of the lungs
2. Estimate the air content of the organs (increased or decreased)
3. Comparative percussion (left and right side)

Question 3

The correct order to perform thoracic percussion:

Answer 3

From back to the front, and from up to down

Question 4

How to perform finger-to-finger percussion correctly?

Answer 4

Left middle finger on the animal
Right middle finger is used to your left finger. use the wrist as a turning point

Question 5

Origin of the percussion sound, what happens so we can hear it?

Answer 5

1. Crackling sound of the tapping hammer and plessimeter
2. Thoracic wall will resonate from the location of percussion
3. Producing resonant sounds of gas-containing tissue or other organs

Question 6

Main characteristics/parameters of the percussion sound:

Answer 6

1. Volume/loudness
2. Pitch/frequency
3. Tone/resonance
4. Duration

Question 7

What to observe for volume/loudness?

Answer 7

Vibrations amplitude

Strong/sharp or weak/dull

Question 8

What to observe for pitch/frequency?

Answer 8

Number of vibrations per minute

High or low

Question 9

What to observe for tone/resonance?

Answer 9

If it is homogenous or non-homogenous

Can be: resonant or damped

Question 10

What to observe for duration?

Answer 10

Short or long

Question 11

Two types of percussion:

Answer 11

Acoustic percussion
Pain percussion

Question 12

Why do we perform acoustic percussion?

Answer 12

to obtain information about the condition of the surrounding tissues, to estimate the lung borders and to detect lesions

Question 13

Why do we perform pain percussion?

Answer 13

To localize pain, we look for the percussion tone

Question 14

Percussion methods:

Answer 14

Direct = finger-to-finger
Indirect = Plessimeter + hammer

Question 15

Name the main percussion sounds:

Answer 15

1. Sonorous/resonant
2. Damped/dull
3. Tympanic

Question 16

Sonorous/resonant percussion sound, what does it sound like and why?

Answer 16

fairly low, strongly resonant

It is air containing organ

Resonant = deep and rich

Question 17

Organs where we can find sonorous/resonant percussion sound:

Answer 17

Normal lungs

Question 18

Dampled/dull percussion sound, what does it sound like and why?

Answer 18

short sound of low intensity
Found in any organ not containing gas

Question 19

Organs where we can find damped/dull percussion sound:

Answer 19

Liver
Heart
Muscle

Question 20

Tympanic percussion sound, what does it sound like and why?

Answer 20

stronger, longer, higher than sonorous, higher in pitch

Found in hollow organ containing gas under pressure

Question 21

Which organs can we find tympanic percussion sound?

Answer 21

Gastric volvolus

Question 22

Normal percussion sound of the thorax of a medium sized-large animal:

Answer 22

From 40 and up kg

Sharp
Low
(Non-)sonorous
(Non-)resonant
Short percussion sound

Question 23

Normal percussion sound of the thorax of a small animal:

Answer 23

Up to 40kg

Sharp
High or low
Sonorous
Long percussion sound

Question 24

Name other special sounds during percussion:

Answer 24

1. Metallic sound
2. Cracked-pot sound
3. Hollow sound

Question 25

What does the metallic sound like?

Answer 25

High-pitched
Sharp musical sound

Question 26

What does the cracked-pot sound like?

Answer 26

Rasping
Wheezing sound with additional noises

Question 27

What does the hollow sound like?

Answer 27

Strong
High
Long sound
Can be tympanic