Which process would best help detect evidence of disease by manual examination?

Palpation is the process that best helps detect evidence of disease through manual examination. This technique involves using the hands to feel the body’s surface, allowing the clinician to assess the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain bodily structures. By feeling various parts of the body, such as the abdomen or lymph nodes, a healthcare professional can identify abnormalities, tenderness, or masses that may indicate disease.

While auscultation, inspection, and observation are also important methods of assessment, they do not primarily involve the tactile examination of body structures. Auscultation focuses on listening to internal sounds, such as heart or lung sounds, with a stethoscope. Inspection involves visual examination, looking for physical signs of illness or abnormalities. Observation can include both visual and auditory aspects but is broader and less specific than palpation, focusing generally on noticing changes or abnormalities. Thus, palpation is the most fitting choice for detecting evidence of disease through hands-on examination.