Final answer:
The technique of tapping around a patient's body to identify abnormalities is called percussion. It helps to assess organ size, borders, and presence of fluids or air. This is different from auscultation, which is listening to heart sounds using a stethoscope.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physician technique that involves tapping around a patient's body as if it were a drum is known as percussion. Percussion is used to identify abnormalities in the organs by striking the body and listening to the sound produced. This technique can reveal the size, consistency, and borders of the organs, as well as the presence of fluid or air within body cavities.
While auscultation involves using a stethoscope to listen to heart sounds and is a very useful diagnostic tool, it is not the technique that involves tapping. Similarly, palpation is a method of feeling the body with fingers or hands to detect the state of the organs or the presence of masses, and inspection refers to visually examining the patient. Therefore, the correct answer to this question is a) Percussion.