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

Atelectatic crackles are often heard during a respiratory assessment and are indicative of normal physiological sounds, typically associated with the collapse or incomplete expansion of the alveoli, particularly in regions of the lungs that may not be fully ventilated. These crackles are usually soft and brief, occurring when the alveoli expand with inspiration after having collapsed or remained relatively unventilated.

This phenomenon is commonly observed in situations such as when a patient has been lying in one position for an extended period, which can lead to areas of the lung becoming atelectatic. As the patient takes a deep breath or coughs, these areas can reinflate, producing the characteristic crackling sounds. Unlike pathological conditions, which indicate underlying disease processes, these crackles are generally transient and resolve with deep breathing or changes in position.

In contrast, other answer choices relate to conditions that are not typical for atelectatic crackles; for example, obstruction in the airways would typically produce wheezing rather than crackles, and fluid in the lungs would result in different types of sounds, such as moist crackles or rhonchi, indicative of conditions like pulmonary edema. Therefore, recognizing the normal physiological basis of atelectatic crackles is crucial for accurate respiratory assessment