Field Internship Student Data Acquisition Project. (FISDAP) Airway Practice Exam

What type of breath sounds are best described as soft-pitched with a gentle sighing quality?

1. Bronchial

2. Vesicular

3. Bronchovesicular

4. Rhonchi

The correct answer is: Vesicular

Vesicular breath sounds are characterized as soft-pitched and having a gentle sighing quality, making them distinct from other types of breath sounds. These sounds are typically heard over the peripheral lung fields and are produced by air flowing through smaller airways during inhalation and, to a lesser extent, during exhalation. This soft and gentle sound reflects the normal air movement and is often considered a sign of healthy lung function. In contrast, bronchial sounds are louder and have a more hollow, tubular quality, typically heard over the trachea and larger airways. Bronchovesicular sounds are intermediate in pitch and intensity, found over the mainstem bronchi, while rhonchi are lower-pitched, snoring or gurgling sounds resulting from airflow obstruction in larger airways, often indicating pathology such as bronchitis or mucus accumulation. Thus, the distinctive, soft-pitched, and gentle sighing nature of vesicular sounds sets them apart as the correct choice.