Areas of the thorax where breath sounds are decreased may indicate

Question

a. a lung tumor that has displaced normal lung tissue.
b. large distance between the lungs and the chest wall.
c. a pneumothorax with collapse of the lung.
d. complete airway obstruction.

Answer 1

B
Breath sounds that are not normal can be classified as either abnormal or adventitious. Abnormal breath sounds are characterized as decreased or absent. Decreased breath sounds may be noted when auscultating a large chest because of the distance between the lungs, where the sounds are generated, and the chest wall. Absent breath sounds occur when a tumor is present because it displaces normal aerating lung space internally or externally to the lungs. A patient with a large pneumothorax can present with absent breath sounds because of the collapse of the lung. Blocked passageways in the respiratory tract explain the etiology for absent breath sounds in complete airway obstruction.