👉 In medical terminology, a palpation is the act of touching the skin with the fingertips. It is often performed on people who have a heart condition or are undergoing surgery to remove a blockage in a vein. Palpations can be done using fingers or even instruments such as a scalpel. The purpose of these palpations is to check for any abnormalities, such as fluid buildup in a vein, which may indicate an underlying medical condition.