NSG 500 Exam 2 Advanced Health Assessment Questions and
Answers | Updated| Pass Guaranteed| Wilkes University
1. Which normal breath sound is heard over the trachea and manubrium?
A. Vesicular
B. Bronchial (tracheal)
C. Bronchovesicular
D. Crackles
Answer: B. Bronchial (tracheal)
Rationale: Bronchial sounds are loud, high-pitched, and have a longer expiratory
than inspiratory phase. Vesicular sounds are soft and heard over most of the
peripheral lung; bronchovesicular sounds are heard over the main bronchi.
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,2. Where are normal bronchovesicular breath sounds heard?
A. Anteriorly at the first and second intercostal spaces and posteriorly between
the scapulae
B. Over the lung bases only
C. Over the lateral chest wall only
D. Over the abdomen
Answer: A. Anteriorly at the first and second intercostal spaces and posteriorly
between the scapulae
Rationale: Bronchovesicular sounds are medium in pitch and intensity and are
heard over the major bronchi near the sternum and between the scapulae.
3. Vesicular breath sounds are characterized by:
A. Loud sounds with expiration longer than inspiration
B. Harsh, high-pitched sounds with a pause between phases
C. Continuous musical sounds
D. Soft, low-pitched sounds with inspiration longer than expiration
Answer: D. Soft, low-pitched sounds with inspiration longer than expiration
Rationale: Vesicular sounds are the normal sounds heard over most of the lungs,
with an inspiratory phase about three times as long as the expiratory phase.
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,4. Bronchial breath sounds heard over the right lower lobe of a patient with
fever and productive cough suggest:
A. Normal lung
B. Emphysema
C. Consolidation
D. Pneumothorax
Answer: C. Consolidation
Rationale: Consolidated lung transmits sound from the large airways more
efficiently, so bronchial sounds replace the expected vesicular sounds.
5. Which adventitious sound is continuous, high-pitched, and musical, and is
typically heard on expiration in asthma?
A. Fine crackles
B. Wheeze
C. Pleural friction rub
D. Stridor
Answer: B. Wheeze
Rationale: Wheezes arise from airflow through narrowed airways. In severe
asthma they may disappear, and a silent chest is an ominous sign.
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, 6. Fine crackles heard late in inspiration at both lung bases, unchanged by
coughing, are most consistent with:
A. Pulmonary fibrosis or early heart failure
B. Asthma
C. Pneumothorax
D. Upper airway obstruction
Answer: A. Pulmonary fibrosis or early heart failure
Rationale: Fine crackles are soft, high-pitched, discontinuous sounds produced by
sudden reopening of small airways or alveoli. Coarse crackles are louder and more
typical of secretions in bronchitis or pneumonia.
7. Rhonchi are best described as:
A. High-pitched sounds that do not change with coughing
B. Grating sounds heard only on inspiration
C. Absent breath sounds
D. Low-pitched, continuous sounds caused by secretions in large airways that
may clear with coughing
Answer: D. Low-pitched, continuous sounds caused by secretions in large
airways that may clear with coughing
Rationale: Rhonchi sound like snoring or gurgling and may change or clear after a
cough, unlike a pleural friction rub.
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Answers | Updated| Pass Guaranteed| Wilkes University
1. Which normal breath sound is heard over the trachea and manubrium?
A. Vesicular
B. Bronchial (tracheal)
C. Bronchovesicular
D. Crackles
Answer: B. Bronchial (tracheal)
Rationale: Bronchial sounds are loud, high-pitched, and have a longer expiratory
than inspiratory phase. Vesicular sounds are soft and heard over most of the
peripheral lung; bronchovesicular sounds are heard over the main bronchi.
Page 1
,2. Where are normal bronchovesicular breath sounds heard?
A. Anteriorly at the first and second intercostal spaces and posteriorly between
the scapulae
B. Over the lung bases only
C. Over the lateral chest wall only
D. Over the abdomen
Answer: A. Anteriorly at the first and second intercostal spaces and posteriorly
between the scapulae
Rationale: Bronchovesicular sounds are medium in pitch and intensity and are
heard over the major bronchi near the sternum and between the scapulae.
3. Vesicular breath sounds are characterized by:
A. Loud sounds with expiration longer than inspiration
B. Harsh, high-pitched sounds with a pause between phases
C. Continuous musical sounds
D. Soft, low-pitched sounds with inspiration longer than expiration
Answer: D. Soft, low-pitched sounds with inspiration longer than expiration
Rationale: Vesicular sounds are the normal sounds heard over most of the lungs,
with an inspiratory phase about three times as long as the expiratory phase.
Page 2
,4. Bronchial breath sounds heard over the right lower lobe of a patient with
fever and productive cough suggest:
A. Normal lung
B. Emphysema
C. Consolidation
D. Pneumothorax
Answer: C. Consolidation
Rationale: Consolidated lung transmits sound from the large airways more
efficiently, so bronchial sounds replace the expected vesicular sounds.
5. Which adventitious sound is continuous, high-pitched, and musical, and is
typically heard on expiration in asthma?
A. Fine crackles
B. Wheeze
C. Pleural friction rub
D. Stridor
Answer: B. Wheeze
Rationale: Wheezes arise from airflow through narrowed airways. In severe
asthma they may disappear, and a silent chest is an ominous sign.
Page 3
, 6. Fine crackles heard late in inspiration at both lung bases, unchanged by
coughing, are most consistent with:
A. Pulmonary fibrosis or early heart failure
B. Asthma
C. Pneumothorax
D. Upper airway obstruction
Answer: A. Pulmonary fibrosis or early heart failure
Rationale: Fine crackles are soft, high-pitched, discontinuous sounds produced by
sudden reopening of small airways or alveoli. Coarse crackles are louder and more
typical of secretions in bronchitis or pneumonia.
7. Rhonchi are best described as:
A. High-pitched sounds that do not change with coughing
B. Grating sounds heard only on inspiration
C. Absent breath sounds
D. Low-pitched, continuous sounds caused by secretions in large airways that
may clear with coughing
Answer: D. Low-pitched, continuous sounds caused by secretions in large
airways that may clear with coughing
Rationale: Rhonchi sound like snoring or gurgling and may change or clear after a
cough, unlike a pleural friction rub.
Page 4
