AON Assessment Practice Test 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Percussion in a clinical examination refers to the technique of tapping on a surface, typically the body, to assess the underlying structures. This method helps clinicians evaluate the presence of fluid, air, or solid masses in the underlying tissues or organs. When performed by a trained professional, percussion can provide valuable information about the size, density, and location of internal organs, particularly in the examination of the lungs and abdomen.

While the other options involve physical interactions with the body or sounds, they do not accurately describe the percussion technique. For instance, placing instruments on the skin does not convey the specific action of tapping. Listening to lung sounds with a stethoscope refers to auscultation, which is a different examination technique aimed at evaluating internal sounds. Lastly, massaging the muscles focuses on therapeutic touch rather than the assessment of internal structures through tapping. Each of these actions serves different purposes within clinical examinations, but only tapping directly captures the essence of percussion.