Percussion is a physical examination technique where the examiner taps body surfaces with fingers or instruments to produce sounds that reveal information about underlying structures. Types include: direct percussion (tapping directly on body); indirect percussion (placing one hand on body and tapping it with the other); and fist percussion (using ulnar surface of fist, often for kidney tenderness). Sounds are characterized as: resonant (normal lung); hyperresonant (emphysematous lung); tympanic (air-filled stomach); dull (solid organs like liver); and flat (muscle or bone). Percussion helps determine organ size and borders, detect fluid or air accumulation, identify masses, and assess tissue density. It requires practice to develop skill in sound differentiation and proper technique. Nurses use percussion alongside inspection, palpation, and auscultation for comprehensive assessment. This technique is particularly valuable in respiratory, abdominal, and cardiac examinations to complement other findings.

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