HESI Health Assessment Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

Vesicular breath sounds are characterized by being low-pitched and soft, with the duration of inspiration being longer than that of expiration. These sounds are heard over the majority of the lung fields, particularly in the peripheral areas, and they indicate normal airflow in these regions. The softness and longer inspiratory phase are particularly indicative of air moving through the smaller airways and alveoli, where the gas exchange occurs.

In comparison, bronchial breath sounds are higher-pitched and have a longer expiration phase than inspiration; they are typically heard over the trachea and large bronchi. Bronchovesicular sounds, which are a mix of the two, can be found in the mainstem bronchi and have equal inspiratory and expiratory phases. Recorded breath sounds is not a standard term related to lung sounds in a clinical context.

Understanding these distinctions is important for health assessments, as they provide key information about respiratory health and can help identify potential abnormalities or issues within the respiratory system.