The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

palpate \palpate\ v. t.
   To examine for medical purposes by touching, as of body
   parts; as, the nurse palpated the patient's stomach.

   Syn: feel.
        [WordNet 1.5]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

palpate
    v 1: examine (a body part) by palpation; "The nurse palpated the
         patient's stomach"; "The runner felt her pulse" [syn:
         palpate, feel]