Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 71%
Simulated
While auscultating a client's 1st and 2nd intercostal spaces, close to the sternal body, the nurse would document these normal breath sounds as which of the following?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: Bronchovesicular. Breath sounds heard in the 1st and 2nd intercostal spaces close to the sternal body are considered bronchovesicular. These sounds are a combination of both bronchial (heard over the trachea) and vesicular (heard over the lung periphery) sounds. Rhonchi (A) are low-pitched wheezing sounds, crackles (B) are discontinuous, nonmusical sounds heard on inspiration, and tracheal (D) sounds are harsh and high-pitched, heard over the trachea. Therefore, the correct answer is C because bronchovesicular sounds are expected in this location, reflecting a normal finding.