Breath Sounds

Bronchial

normal, loud, high pitch, over trachea

Bronchovesicular

normal, medium pitch, rustling, 1 finger breathd parasternal

Vesicular

normal, soft, low pitch, peripheral lung segments

Wheeze (rhonchi)

continuous sounds high or low pitch, expiratory or inspiratory​

expiratory - airway constriction , inspiratory - high pitch from airway obstruction (Stridor)

Crackles (Rales)

• discontinuous, popping bubbles​

• “wet crackles” – low pitch during inspiration or expiration from movement of fluid or secretions​

• “dry crackles” – opening of closed airways, later half of inspiration from atelectasis,​ pulmonary fibrosis, or pleural effusion

• “fine crackles” - low pitch, inspiration and expiration, pulmonary edema as bubbles through fluid in the distal airways

Pleural Rub

dry crackling sound on inspiration and expiration from inflamed visceral and parietal pleura rub together, over area of pleuritic pain​

Diminished

less audible sound from emphysema, hypoventilation, or pleural effusion​

Absent

no lung sound heard where there should be sound from pneumothorax​