A client with a history of COPD is being assessed. When the nurse percusses the client's chest, which characteristic sound is expected?

Tympany

Hyperresonance

Resonance

Dullness

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice a reason:
Tympany is a drum-like, resonant sound that is typically heard over air-filled structures, such as the gastric bubble, not the chest. It is not a sound associated with the lungs, especially in the context of COPD.

Choice b reason:
Hyperresonance is an abnormally loud, lower-pitched sound than normal resonance heard over hyperinflated areas of the lung, such as in cases of COPD. This is due to the increased air content within the lungs, often because of overdistension or destruction of alveolar tissue, as seen in emphysema, a common type of COPD.

Choice c reason:
Resonance is the normal sound heard over healthy lung tissue when percussed. However, in the case of COPD, particularly emphysema, the destruction of lung tissue leads to hyperinflation and thus a hyperresonant sound rather than the normal resonance.

Choice d reason:
Dullness is heard when fluid or solid tissue replaces air in the lung or occupies the pleural space, as in the case of pneumonia or pleural effusion. This is not characteristic of COPD, where there is an increase in air due to the breakdown of alveolar walls.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice a reason:
Resonance is the expected percussion note when percussing over normal, healthy lung tissue. This sound is produced due to the presence of air in the lung parenchyma, which allows for the transmission of sound waves through the air-filled spaces. In a healthy individual, the resonance indicates that the lungs are free from any significant abnormalities that could alter the sound, such as fluid or solid masses.
Choice b reason:
Tympanic notes are typically heard over hollow, air-containing structures like the stomach. This sound is not expected in lung percussion unless there is a large, air-filled cavity within the lung tissue, which would be abnormal and indicative of a pathological condition such as a pneumothorax.
Choice c reason:
A flat percussion note is usually heard over dense tissues where air is not present, such as over the thigh muscles or areas of the chest where lung tissue has been replaced by something more solid, like in the case of a pleural effusion or a lung mass.
Choice d reason:
Dullness on percussion usually indicates that the lung is not air-filled and may be suggestive of underlying conditions such as pneumonia, tumor, or atelectasis. It is a higher-pitched sound compared to flatness and is typically found in areas of the lung that are filled with fluid or solid tissue rather than air.

A. Tracheal B. Vesicular C. Bronchovesicular D. Bronchial

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A Reason:
Tracheal sounds are harsh, high-pitched breath sounds typically heard over the trachea in the neck. They are not expected to be heard over the peripheral lung fields of a young adult during a routine lung auscultation.

Choice B Reason:
Vesicular breath sounds are the normal sounds heard over most of the lung fields. They are characterized by a soft, low-pitched, rustling sound during inhalation and are softer during exhalation. These sounds are created by air moving through the smaller airways such as the bronchioles and alveoli.

Choice C Reason:
Bronchovesicular sounds are heard over the major bronchi and are characterized by a moderate pitch and intensity. They are typically heard between the first and second intercostal spaces at the sternal border anteriorly and between the scapulae posteriorly, not over most of the lung fields.

Choice D Reason:
Bronchial breath sounds are high-pitched and louder than vesicular sounds, with a hollow quality, and are normally heard over the manubrium. If heard over the peripheral lung fields, they may indicate lung consolidation or other abnormalities.

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A client with a history of COPD is being assessed. When the nurse percusses the client's chest, which characteristic sound is expected?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is performing a respiratory physical examination on a healthy patient. When performing the percussion physical assessment technique, the lung percussion note should be:

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The nurse is preparing to auscultate the lung sounds of a young adult. Which sound will the nurse expect to hear over most of the client's lungs?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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