Respiratory: Lung Sounds

Question 1

Vesicular breath sounds (Normal)

Answer 1

Vesicular breath sounds are soft and low pitched with a rustling quality during inspiration and are even softer during expiration. These are the most commonly auscultated breath sounds, normally heard over the most of the lung surface. They have an inspiration/expiratory ratio of 3 to 1 or I:E of 3:1.

Question 2

Fine crackles aka rales

(sounds like velcor pulling apart)

Answer 2

Fine crackles are brief, discontinuous, popping lung sounds that are high-pitched. Fine crackles are also similar to the sound of wood burning in a fireplace, or hook and loop fasteners being pulled apart or cellophane being crumpled.

Crackles, previously termed rales, can be heard in both phases of respiration. Early inspiratory and expiratory crackles are the hallmark of chronic bronchitis. Late inspiratory crackles may mean pneumonia, CHF, or atelectasis.

Question 3

Crackles, previously termed __1__can be heard ___2__when?

Answer 3

Crackles, previously termed rales, can be heard in both phases of respiration. Early inspiratory and expiratory crackles are the hallmark of chronic bronchitis. Late inspiratory crackles may mean pneumonia, CHF, or atelectasis.

Question 4

Crackles (Fine)

Crackles (Fine)

Early inspiratory and expiratory crackles are the hallmark of ___?___

Answer 4

Early inspiratory and expiratory crackles are the hallmark of chronic bronchitis.

Question 5

Fine Crackles

Crackles (Fine)

Late inspiratory crackles may mean (3)

Answer 5

Late inspiratory crackles may mean

1. pneumonia,
2. CHF,
3. atelectasis.

Question 6

Coarse Crackles (3)

Answer 6

Coarse crackles are

1. discontinuous,
2. brief,
3. popping lung sounds.

Question 7

Course Crackle compared to fine crackles are (3)

Answer 7

Compared to fine crackles they are

louder,

lower in pitch

last longer.

They have also been described as a bubbling sound. You can simulate this sound by rolling strands of hair between your fingers near your ear.

Question 8

Wheezes are adventitious lung sounds that are continuous with a musical quality.

1. High pitch wheezes sound similar to?
2. Low pitch wheeze sound similar to?
3. The more wheeze sound you hear in a respiratory cycle means?
4. Wheezes are caused by?

Answer 8

Wheezes are adventitious lung sounds that are continuous with a musical quality. Wheezes can be high or low pitched.

1. High pitched wheezes may have an auscultation sound similar to squeaking.
2. Lower pitched wheezes have a snoring or moaning quality.
3. The proportion of the respiratory cycle occupied by the wheeze roughly corresponds to the degree of airway obstruction.
4. Wheezes are caused by narrowing of the airways.

Question 9

Low pitch wheezes (rhonchi)

1. Are heard when?
2. They can sound like? (3)
3. Rhonchi usually clear after?

Answer 9

1. Low pitched wheezes (rhonchi) are continuous, both inspiratory and expiratory, low pitched adventitious lung sounds that are similar to wheezes.
2. They often have a snoring, gurgling or rattle-like quality.
3. Rhonchi occur in the bronchi. Sounds defined as rhonchi are heard in the chest wall where bronchi occur, not over any alveoli. Rhonchi usually clear after coughing.

Question 10

1. Bronchial breath sounds are__3__.
2. They can be auscultated over the __1__where they are considered normal.
3. There is a distinct __?__in the sound between inspiration and expiration. I:E ratio is 1:3 .

Answer 10

Bronchial breath sounds are hollow, tubular sounds that are lower pitched.

They can be auscultated over the trachea where they are considered normal.

There is a distinct pause in the sound between inspiration and expiration. I:E ratio is 1:3 .