Which meaning is 'strike through'?

• A. Pareunia
• B. Percuss
• C. Path(o)
• D. Peri

Answer: (B)

Percussion in medical terminology is about striking through a body surface to assess what lies beneath. The term comes from the act of tapping to “strike through” the tissues, helping the clinician infer the presence of air, fluid, or solid structures based on the sounds produced. This is exactly what percussion involves during a physical exam: tapping with a finger or hammer to reveal underlying anatomy and conditions.

The other roots don’t fit this idea: pareunia refers to sexual intercourse, path(o) relates to disease or suffering, and peri means around. None of those describe the act of striking through a surface to examine what's underneath, which is the essence of percussion.