Adventitious Breath Sounds

Front 1

wheezes

Back 1

high-pitched, continuous musical sounds, usually heard on expiration. wheezes are caused by narrowing of the airways. Often heard without stethscope

Front 2

Rhonchi

Back 2

low pitched, continuous gurgling sounds caused by secretions in the large airways. They often clear with coughing

Front 3

crackles

Back 3

caused by fluid in the alveoli. They are discontinuous sounds usually heard thoughout the respiratory cycle. May be high-pitched, popping sounds or low-pitched bubbling sounds; described as sound made by rubbing strands of hair together with fingertips

Front 4

stridor

Back 4

piercing high-pitched sound that is heard without a stethscope, mainly during inspiration, in infants experiencing respiratory distress or someone with obstruced airways

Front 5

stertor

Back 5

labored breathing that produces a snoring sound