Meaning & use
ballottement
Last updated
A medical examination technique in which a floating structure, such as a fetus, is detected by gently tapping and feeling it rebound.
See it in a sentence
The obstetrician used ballottement to confirm the position of the fetus during the exam.
A positive ballottement test can also help doctors detect fluid around the kneecap.
A note on using this word
Borrowed from French (related to "ballotter," to toss about), this is a specialized clinical term rarely used outside medicine.
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