Breath sounds

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Breath sounds refer to the specific sounds identified through auscultation of the respiratory system with a stethoscope.

In this context, "adventitious" refers to sounds heard apart from the normal sounds of inspiration and expiration.

[edit] Types of adventitious breath sounds

• Rales (or "Crackles")
• Wheeze and stridor
• Friction rub^[1]
• Rhonchi^[2] -- indicative of bronchitis
• inspiratory gasp -- indicative of whooping cough
• crepitations^[3]
• Hamman's sign (or Mediastinal crunch)^[4] -- indicative of pneumomediastinum

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/cache/1382744076.htm
2. ^ http://www.drhull.com/EncyMaster/R/rhonchi.html
3. ^ http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/cache/-1395654592.htm
4. ^ http://chorus.rad.mcw.edu/doc/00456.html

[edit] External links

• Distinguishing sounds
• Wilkins R, Dexter J, Smith J (1984). "Survey of adventitious lung sound terminology in case reports". Chest 85 (4): 523-5. PMID 6705583. 
• MeSH Respiratory+sounds