ballottement

bal·lotte·ment (b-ltmnt)

n.

1. A palpatory technique for detecting or examining an organ not near the surface of the body.

2. The use of a finger to push sharply against the uterus and detect the presence or position of a fetus by its return impact.

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ballottement

[bä′lôtmäN′, bəlot′ment]

Etymology: Fr, tossing

a technique of palpating an organ or floating structure by bouncing it gently and feeling it rebound. Ballottement of a fetus within a uterus is a probable objective sign of pregnancy. In late pregnancy a fetal head that can be ballotted is said to be floating or unengaged, as differentiated from a fixed or an engaged head, which cannot be easily dislodged from the pelvis.

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ballottement

[Fr.] a palpatory maneuver to test for a floating object, especially for detecting pregnancy by pushing the fist, in the case of cows, the fingertips in the case of ewes, into the abdominal wall, causing the fetus to move from and quickly return to the fist or fingers.