A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content.
Auscultation is a crucial component of the physical assessment of the respiratory tract. It offers valuable insights into airflow through the bronchial tree and potential lung obstructions. This process involves careful listening to breath, voice, and adventitious sounds, which can reveal a wealth of information about a patient's respiratory health.
Breath Sounds
Breath sounds are categorized into vesicular, bronchovesicular, and bronchial.
The location, quality, and intensity of these sounds provide vital clues about a patient's respiratory health. For instance, diminished or absent breath sounds may signal bronchial obstruction, pleural effusion, or tissue separation from the air passages.
Voice Sounds
Voice sounds, or vocal resonance, are produced in the larynx and transmitted to the thorax as they pass through the bronchi and alveolar tissue.
In normal physiology, voice sounds are faint and indistinct. However, respiratory pathologies that increase lung density, such as pneumonia and pulmonary edema, can alter this response.
Three distinct abnormal voice sounds are bronchophony, egophony, and whispered pectoriloquy. Bronchophony is characterized by intense and clear vocal resonance. At the same time, egophony involves distorted voice sounds, often transforming the sound of the letter "E" into a heard "A." Whispered pectoriloquy describes the ability to clearly and distinctly hear whispered sounds that should not usually be heard.
Adventitious Sounds
Adventitious sounds are additional, abnormal sounds that may indicate a condition affecting the bronchial tree and alveoli. These include crackles, wheezes, rhonchi, pleural friction rubs, and stridor.
In conclusion, auscultation provides a comprehensive assessment of the respiratory tract, enabling healthcare professionals to diagnose and monitor respiratory conditions effectively. Carefully analyzing breath sounds, voice sounds, and adventitious sounds can reveal subtle changes in a patient's respiratory health, facilitating early intervention and treatment.
From Chapter 1:
Now Playing
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
210 Views
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
635 Views
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
373 Views
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
420 Views
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
333 Views
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
120 Views
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
170 Views
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
174 Views
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
153 Views
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
156 Views
An Overview of the Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
192 Views
Copyright © 2025 MyJoVE Corporation. All rights reserved
We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website.
By continuing to use our website or clicking “Continue”, you are agreeing to accept our cookies.