Normal Lung Sounds

types of normal breath sounds

vesicular, bronchial, bronchovesicular

vesicular lung sounds

the major normal breath sound

where are vesicular sounds heard?

over most of the lungs

best spot and time to hear vesicular sounds

at the base (bottom) of the lungs, curling inspiration

pitch and intensity of vesicular sounds

soft, low-pitched

what goes on in the body during vesicular sounds?

air flowing through alveoli

which phase are vesicular sounds longer in?

inspiration longer than expiration

when might vesicular sounds sound softer?

in frail, elderly, obese, or very muscular patients

where do you hear bronchial sounds?

over the larynx and trachea

pitch and intensity of bronchial sounds

• very loud

• high pitched

• harsh blowing sound

if you can hear bronchial sounds anywhere other than the larynx & trachea, what could that mean?

an area of consolidation exists

• ex: space that usually has air now has fluid or solid lung tissue

in bronchial sounds, there is a ___ between the inspiratory and expiratory phases

gap

which phase are bronchial sounds longer in?

expiratory phase

where are bronchovesicular sounds heard anteriorly?

1st–2nd intercostal spaces

where are bronchovesicular sounds heard posteriorly?

between scapulae (main bronchi)

what do bronchovesicular sounds sound like?

intermediate intensity and pitch (moderate “blowing”)

bronchovesicular: timing of inspiration vs expiration

inspiration equals expiration

bronchovesicular sounds heard outside normal spots suggests….

consolidation

memory line for normals

• vesicular = soft at bases

• bronchial = loud at trachea

• bronchovesicular = medium at main bronchi