A medical examination technique where a doctor applies sudden pressure to detect floating objects or fluid in body cavities, especially used in pregnancy to confirm fetal movement.
From French 'ballottement,' derived from 'ballotter' (to toss back and forth), which comes from 'ballot' (ball). The term describes the bouncing or tossing sensation felt during the examination.
This sophisticated medical term perfectly captures what doctors feel when they examine a pregnant woman—it's literally like gently tossing a baby through amniotic fluid and feeling it bounce back, which is exactly what 'ballottement' means in French!
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