Auscultation
Lung auscultation is listening to the lungs bilaterally at the anterior chest and posterior chest. Wheezing is described as a musical sound on expiration or inspiration. It is the result of narrowed airways. Rhonchi are bubbly sounds similar to blowing bubbles through a straw into a sundae. They are heard on expiration and inspiration. It is the result of viscous fluid in the airways. Crackles or rales are similar to rhonchi except they are only heard during inspiration. It is the result of alveoli popping open from increased air pressure.
- Inspiratory crackles (decompensated congestive heart failure)
- Expiratory wheezes (asthma, emphysema)
- Stridor and other upper airway sounds
- Bronchial vs. vesicular breath sounds
- Appropriate ratio of inspiration to expiration time (expiration time increased in COPD)
Read more about this topic: Respiratory Examination