RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT

WATCH VIDEO!
Inspection Auscultation of the Percussion
lungs
of the anterior and • Percussion of a
posterior thorax • Listen for adventitious well-ventilated
can help identify breath sounds. lung should sound
abnormalities, such resonant, with
as: • Listen and compare breath dullness over ribs
sounds heard in the upper or pathology
and lower lungs.
• Asymmetry
• Listen and compare breath
• Retractions
sounds heard on the anterior
and posterior chest.

Adventitious lung sounds Respiratory

Adventitious
landmarks
Characteristics
sounds

• High-pitched (fine), medium-pitched (medium), or low-pitched Anterior axillary line

Crackles (coarse) popping sounds
Midsternal line
• Heard on inspiration and not cleared by coughing
• Low-pitched, coarse, wet snoring/moaning sounds
Rhonchi
• Heard more on expiration than inspiration
• High-pitched musical squeaking
Wheeze
• Heard more on expiration than inspiration
• Low-pitched, dry, coarse, rubbing sound
Pleural rub
• Heard on inspiration and expiration and are not cleared by coughing
• A harsh high-pitched noise when breathing caused by obstruction
Stridor
of the airway

Breathing patterns
Midclavicular line

Eupnea Normal breathing rate and pattern Posterior Anterior

axillary line axillary line

Tachypnea Increased respiratory rate

Bradypnea Decreased respiratory rate

Apnea Absence of breathing

Gradual increases and decreases in

Cheyne-Stokes
respirations with periods of apnea

Kussmaul’s sign Tachypnea and hyperpnea

Midaxillary line

www.lecturio.com/nursing