Pulmonary: Physical Therapy Examination: Auscultation

Question 1

Vesicular

Answer 1

• Normal breath sound

- Soft rustling sound through all of inspiration and beginning of expiration

Question 2

Bronchial

Answer 2

• Hollow echoing sound
• Found over right superior/anterior thorax
• Corresponds to an area over the right mainstream bronchus
• All of inspiration and most of expiration are heard with bronchial breath sounds

Question 3

Bronchovesicular

Answer 3

• Intermediate breath sound between bronchiole and vesicular with equal periods of inspiration ad expiration

Question 4

Decreased

Answer 4

• Distant sound allows only some inspiration to be heard

- Often associated with obstructive lung diseases

Question 5

Adventitious: Crackles/Rales

Answer 5

• Crackling sound during inspiration

- Indicates pathology: Atelactasis, Fibrosis, Pulmonary edema

Question 6

Adventitious: Wheezes

Answer 6

• A high pitched sound heard typically during expiation

- Caused by airway obstruction: Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, foreign body aspiration

Question 7

Vocal Sounds: Egophony

Answer 7

• E sounds are transmitted to sound like A sounds

Question 8

Vocal Sounds: Bronchophony

Answer 8

• Intense clear sound during auscultation even at lung bases

Question 9

Vocal Sounds: Whispered pectoriloquy

Answer 9

• Whispered sounds are heard clearly during auscultation