Auscultating Lung Sounds

Question 1

List the normal lung sounds

Answer 1

Bronchial, vesicular, bronchovesicular

(BVB)

Question 2

Bronchial (tracheal) sound

Answer 2

High, loud, tubular sound heard over trachea and larynx

Question 3

Vesicular sound

Answer 3

Soft, low pitched, breezy/rustling sound

Question 4

Bronchovesicular sound

Answer 4

Medium pitched, hollow sound

Question 5

List the abnormal lung sounds

Answer 5

Discontinuous sounds: Rales, pleural friction rub,

Continuous sounds: wheezes, stridor, rhonchi

r.r.p.s.w

Question 6

Rales

Answer 6

Rice Krispies like sound. Due to previously deflated airways that are popping back open

Coarse crackles: low pitched wet bubbling sounds. Due to inhaled air colliding with secretions in trachea or large bronchi.

Question 8

Pleural friction rub

Answer 8

Low pitched harsh grating sounds. Due to inflammation of pleura and loss of the pleural fluid (so the surfaces are running together as patient breathes)

Question 9

Wheezes

Answer 9

Whistling like sound. Due to air moving through narrow airway

Question 10

Stridor

Answer 10

High pitched whistling or gasping with harsh sound quality. Due to disturbed airflow in larynx or trachea

Question 11

Rhonchi

Answer 11

Low pitched deep wheezing or snoring sounds. Due to obstruction of narrowing. Of larger airways