Palpation refers to the act of using hands to touch or feel a certain area of the body, usually to examine or diagnose if something feels normal or abnormal. Full definition
The diagnosis of patellar luxation is essentially based on palpation of an unstable knee cap (Figure 4) on orthopedic examination. (acvs.org)
Rectal abdominal palpation with a wand is a simple, cheap and quick method, however its accuracy for determining multiple pregnancies is low and it can cause abortion or rectal perforation. (doctor-info.website)
The veterinarian will confirm prostatitis by rectal palpation of the gland to feel for enlargement, asymmetry, obvious masses, or fluctuant areas (soft spots). (texaswestveterinarian.com)