Which word, meaning “to examine by touch”, fits best into this sentence?
“The pediatrician _________ the young patient’s abdomen to see if she could discover what was causing the girl’s pain.”

In trying to diagnose the problem, it makes sense that the doctor would examine by touch, or palpate the patient’s abdomen. It does not make sense that the doctor would just think about her abdomen (ponder), estimate her abdomen (project), or maintain her abdomen (perpetuate).