Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

What term describes the sound of fluid or mucus in the large airway?

1. Rhonchi

2. Stridor

3. Wheezing

4. Crackles

The correct answer is: Rhonchi

The term that describes the sound of fluid or mucus in the large airway is rhonchi. Rhonchi are typically low-pitched, continuous sounds that often have a snoring or gurgling quality. They are produced when air flows through secretions or obstructions in the large airways. This can occur due to conditions such as bronchitis or pneumonia, where mucus accumulation is present. In contrast, stridor is a high-pitched sound indicating obstruction in the upper airway, often associated with conditions such as croup or foreign body aspiration. Wheezing is a musical or squeaky sound resulting from narrowed airways, commonly seen in asthma or bronchospasm. Crackles are short, popping sounds resulting from the reopening of collapsed alveoli or fluid in the smaller airways, typically associated with conditions like pulmonary edema or pneumonia. Each sound has distinct clinical implications, making it important to accurately identify them to guide proper treatment.