Auscultation Location

Wheezes - Expiratory Auscultation Reference

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Lesson

For heart sounds listen to the synthetic sound while reviewing this lesson.

Wheezes are adventitious lung sounds that are continuous with a musical quality. Wheezes can be high or low pitched. High pitched wheezes may have an auscultation sound similar to squeaking. Lower pitched wheezes have a snoring or moaning quality.

The proportion of the respiratory cycle occupied by the wheeze roughly corresponds to the degree of airway obstruction.

Wheezes are caused by narrowing of the airways.

As you listen to this sound, observe the waveform. This is a graph of sound amplitude (loudness) on the vertical axis vs time on the horizontal axis.

Additional Listening Tips

Loud, musical and continuous sounds occurring in expiration. Heard over anterior, posterior and lateral chest walls.

Auscultation Method

The recommended patient position is sitting

For this sound, use stethoscope's diaphragm The recommended auscultation position for the stethoscope is posterior-3l

Relevant Courses

If you wish to review a complete mobile concerning Wheezes - Expiratory Auscultation Reference and related heart sounds, the modules(s) listed below may be useful. Each lesson includes text that explains the auscultatory sound and its clinical significance. The lesson also includes an audio track for playback. A waveform provides a great way to visualize the sounds. Finally, we also include an animation video. For heart sounds, the video illustrates heart muscle and valve movements along with blood flow. For lung sounds, the primary source of the sounds can be seen. Each module also includes a quiz.

Intermediate Lung Sounds	202
Introduction to Lung Sounds	203

Wheezes - Expiratory Auscultation Reference