Mastering Respiratory Auscultation: The Clinical Skills Challenge

1. Which adventitious lung sound is characterized by a high-pitched, continuous musical sound, often heard on expiration, and is commonly associated with asthma or bronchospasm?

2. When auscultating the peripheral lung fields, what is the expected normal breath sound, characterized by soft, low-pitched sounds heard during inspiration and the beginning of expiration?

3. According to the article, where are breath sounds primarily generated?

4. What is the name for the normal breath sound heard over most lung fields, which is soft and low-pitched?

5. Which of the following is a recommended practice for performing auscultation effectively?

6. What are ‘crackles’ (also known as crepitations or rales)?

7. What do polyphonic wheezes typically indicate?

8. Which adventitious sound is described as a medical emergency indicating a partial obstruction of the trachea or larynx?

9. What are the characteristics of bronchial breath sounds when heard correctly over the manubrium?

10. Which of the following is NOT listed as a cause of absent or decreased breath sounds?

11. What causes the sound known as a ‘pleural rub’?

12. In the phenomenon of egophony, what change in sound occurs when a patient vocalizes ‘e’ over an area of lung consolidation?

13. Who coined the term ‘vesicular breath sound’ based on the mistaken belief that the sounds were produced in the alveoli?

14. Bronchophony is detected when a spoken word like ’99’ is heard through the stethoscope as:

15. What are squawks (or squeaks)?