palpability

Palpability is the quality of being perceptible by touch or by the sense of touch; more broadly, the degree to which something can be perceived or recognized, often indicating obviousness or tangibility.

Etymology: the term comes from Latin palpabilis meaning "that can be touched," from palpāre to touch.

In medicine, palpability is central to physical examination. Palpation involves using hands to feel the body; a mass, organ, or pulse may be described as palpable if it can be detected by touch. The absence or presence of palpable signs can guide diagnosis and treatment.

In science and everyday language, palpability can refer to perceptibility by any sense, or to how evidently a phenomenon is perceived. For example, the palpability of heat, cold, or emotion refers to how strongly it is felt or recognized by observers.

Factors influencing palpability include physiological thresholds, instrument sensitivity, and context; subjectivity means different observers may judge palpability differently. In clinical practice, palpability thresholds may depend on anatomy, patient habitus, and technique.

Examples: a palpable pulse; a palpable fear; a palpable sense of relief after resolution of uncertainty.