The document discusses normal and abnormal breath sounds in the lungs. It describes normal breath sounds as vesicular, broncho-vesicular, and bronchial. Abnormal or adventitious breath sounds include crackles, gurgles, friction rubs, and wheezes. Crackles are fine, short, interrupted sounds heard on inspiration. Gurgles are low-pitched, gurgling sounds heard on expiration. Friction rubs are superficial grating sounds heard during both inspiration and expiration. Wheezes are high-pitched, squeaky musical sounds heard on expiration.

1. THE
THORAX
AND THE
LUNGS
( P A R T 2 )
J H O N E E B A L M E O

2. BREATH SOUNDS
• Abnormal breath sounds,
called adventitious breath
sounds, occur when air passes
through narrowed airways or
airways filled with fluid or
mucus, or when pleural linings
are inflamed.

3. NORMAL BREATH SOUNDS
• Vesicular
Soft-intensity, low-pitched, “gentle sighing” sounds created by air
through smaller airways (bronchioles and alveoli)
• Broncho-vesicular
Moderate-intensity and moderate-pitched “blowing” sounds created by
air moving through larger airway (bronchi)
• Bronchial (tubular)
High-pitched, loud, “harsh” sounds created by air moving through the
trachea

4. ADVENTITIOUS BREATH SOUNDS
• Crackles (rales)
Fine, short, interrupted crackling
sounds; alveolar rales are high
pitched. Sound can be
by rolling a lock of hair near the
ear. Best heard on inspiration
but can be heard on both
inspiration and expiration. May
not be cleared by coughing.

5. ADVENTITIOUS BREATH SOUNDS
• Crackles (rales)
Fine Sound

6. ADVENTITIOUS BREATH SOUNDS
• Gurgles (rhonchi)
Continuous, low-pitched,
gurgling, harsh, louder sounds
with a moaning or snoring
quality. Best heard on expiration
but can be heard on both
inspiration and expiration. May
be altered by coughing.

7. ADVENTITIOUS BREATH SOUNDS
• Friction rub
Superficial grating or creaking
sounds heard during inspiration
and expiration. Not relieved by
coughing.

8. ADVENTITIOUS BREATH SOUNDS
• Wheeze
Continuous, high-pitched,
squeaky musical sounds. Best
heard on expiration. Not usually
altered by coughing.

9. • References:
• Audrey Berman . . . [et al.]. – 9th ed. (2012) KOZIER & ERB’S Fundamentals of NURSING
Concepts, Process, and Practice.
• EMTprep (2021) Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpXn4ToUsD7OmjjH-bmaBjg