The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Palpation \Pal*pa"tion\, n. [L. palpatio, fr. palpare. See
   Palpable.]
   1. Act of touching or feeling.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Med.) Examination of a patient by touch. --Quain.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

palpation
    n 1: a method of examination in which the examiner feels the
         size or shape or firmness or location of something (of body
         parts when the examiner is a health professional) [syn:
         palpation, tactual exploration]