Final answer:
When percussing the liver, a dull sound is expected due to the density of liver tissue. Clinicians use percussion to assess organ size and density. Dullness over the liver, compared to the resonance over hollow organs, helps gauge liver span and detect enlargement during physical examinations.
Step-by-step explanation:
When percussing the liver, the expected sound is a dullness due to the density of the liver tissue. Percussion is used by clinicians to assess the size and density of internal organs. Specifically for the liver, one should hear a dull sound instead of the resonance that might be heard over a hollow organ, like the stomach. For instance, during a physical examination, a healthcare provider will percuss the lower edge of the liver to measure its span. If the liver is enlarged, the area of dullness will be larger than normal. This dullness is a high-quality sound that indicates a solid organ beneath the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unlike the tympanic sound produced by air-filled structures.