Breath sounds
| Sound | Description | Inspiration:Expiration(Sound Appreciation Ratio) | Normal Location |
| Bronchial/Tracheal | High Pitched, tubular | 1:2 | Over the trachea |
| Bronchovesicular | Medium Pitched, rustling | 1:1 | 1 finger breadth para-sternal |
| Vesicular | Soft, Low Pitched | 2:1 (especially in basal segments) | Peripheral Lung segments |
Location of Normal Breath Sounds
Audio Examples (courtesy of the University of Maryland at Baltimore via iTunes U )
- Bronchial/Tracheal:
- Bronchovesicular:
- Vesicular:
Auscultation of the peripheral lung segments
Directions
- All lung segments should be auscultated on both sides.
- Stethoscope should be placed onto bare skin
- Instruct the patient to breathe through their mouth.
- Listen through one full breath cycle (inspiration and expiration) for each segment.
- Breath sounds should be identical from side to side
Lung Segments of the Anterior Chest Wall
Lung Segments of the Posterior Chest Wall
Physical Therapy Reviewer 