Palp

Palp is a term used in medical and biological contexts with several related meanings. As a verb, it is short for palpate, meaning to examine by touch. In anatomy and zoology, palp (short for palpus or palpus) refers to a slender sensory appendage near the mouthparts of many arthropods, especially insects, used to sense chemicals, textures, and other stimuli. In clinical practice, “palp” is commonly encountered as an abbreviation for palpation or for noting a finding that is palpable.

Etymology and usage: Palp derives from Latin palpāre, meaning to touch or feel. The linguistic root appears in related terms such as palpation, palpable, and palpator, which describe the action of feeling or the resulting sensation.

Medical context: Palpation is a basic technique in physical examination. Clinicians use superficial and deep palpation to assess organ size, contour, tenderness, masses, and consistency. It complements auscultation and percussion in forming a clinical impression. In documentation, clinicians may write notes such as “abdomen: palp” to indicate a palpation finding or “palpable mass” to describe a detectable lesion.

Entomology and anatomy: In insects and other arthropods, palps are paired appendages near the mouthparts that function as sensory and manipulative structures. Common forms include the labial palp and maxillary palp. The number and morphology of palps vary across species and can aid in identification and feeding behavior studies.

See also: palpation, palpable, palpus.