Question

Palpate for tenderness, sensation and surface masses. Start with your hand positioned over the left clavicle and move your hand from left to right, comparing findings bilaterally. Then move your hand systematically downward toward the midline at the level of the breasts and outward at the base to include the lateral aspect of the lung. What is the purpose of this procedure?

1) To check for tenderness and abnormal sensations in the clavicle area
2) To check for surface masses on the left side of the body
3) To assess the sensation and surface of the breasts
4) To palpate the lateral aspect of the lung

Answer 1

The procedure aims to assess the chest area for irregularities by palpating from the clavicle down to include the breasts and lateral aspects of the lungs, helping identify any surface masses, tenderness, or abnormal sensations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of the described procedure is to assess for tenderness, sensation, and surface masses in the chest area, including the clavicles, lungs, and breasts. Palpating from the clavicle, which is an S-shaped bone that articulates with the sternum and scapula and lies horizontally across the thorax, helps identify any abnormal structures or sensations across the bilateral aspects of the chest. By moving systematically downwards and laterally, a practitioner can cover the entire lung area, which includes the pleurae and the diaphragm, enabling the detection of any anomalies such as surface masses or areas of tenderness that might suggest conditions such as infections or neoplasms.