8/14/24, 4:52 AM
Health Assessment: Assessing Thorax and Lungs
Jeremiah
Terms in this set (22)
1/7
, 8/14/24, 4:52 AM
A 21-year-old college senior presents to the Correct response: Asthma
clinic reporting shortness of breath and a Explanation: Asthma causes shortness of breath and a nocturnal cough. It is often
nonproductive nocturnal cough. She states associated with a history of allergies and can be exacerbated by exercise or irritants
she used to feel this way only with extreme such as smoke in a bar. On auscultation there can be normal to decreased air
exercise, but lately she has felt this way movement. Wheezing is heard on expiration and sometimes inspiration. The duration of
continuously. She denies any other upper wheezing in expiration usually correlates with the severity of illness, so it is important to
respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary document this length (e.g., wheezes heard halfway through exhalation). In severe
symptoms and says she has no chest pain. asthma, wheezes may not be heard because of the lack of air movement. Paradoxically,
Her past medical history is significant only these clients may have more wheezes after treatment, which actually indicates an
for seasonal allergies, for which she takes a improvement in condition. Peak flow measurements help to discern this. (less)
nasal steroid spray; she takes no other Reference: Chapter 19: Assessing Thorax and Lungs, p. 385.
medications. She has had no surgeries. Her
mother has allergies and eczema; her father
has high blood pressure. She is an only child.
She denies smoking and illegal drug use but
drinks three to four alcoholic beverages per
weekend. She is a junior in finance at a local
university and has recently started a job as a
bartender in town. On examination she is in
no acute distress. Temperature is 98.6, blood
pressure is 120/80, pulse is 80, and
respirations are 20. Head, eyes, ears, nose,
and throat examinations are essentially
normal. Inspection of her anterior and
posterior chest shows no abnormalities. On
auscultation of her chest, there is decreased
air movement and a high-pitched whistling
on expiration in all lobes. Percussion reveals
resonant lungs. Which disorder of the thorax
or lung does this presentation best
describe?
a) Spontaneous pneumothorax
b) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)
c) Asthma
d) Pneumonia
When percussing the anterior chest for tone, Correct response: Resonance
a nurse should anticipate what tone over the Explanation:
majority of the lung fields? Normal lung tissue elicits a resonance tone when percussed. Hyperresonance is
elicited in cases of trapped air such as in emphysema or pneumothorax. Dullness may
a) Resonance characterize areas of increased density such as consolidation, pleural effusion, or
b) Tympany tumor. Tympany is elicited over air filled spaces such as puffed out check or stomach
c) Hyperresonance bubble. (less)
d) Dullness Reference: Chapter 19: Assessing Thorax and Lungs, p. 387.
2/7
Health Assessment: Assessing Thorax and Lungs
Jeremiah
Terms in this set (22)
1/7
, 8/14/24, 4:52 AM
A 21-year-old college senior presents to the Correct response: Asthma
clinic reporting shortness of breath and a Explanation: Asthma causes shortness of breath and a nocturnal cough. It is often
nonproductive nocturnal cough. She states associated with a history of allergies and can be exacerbated by exercise or irritants
she used to feel this way only with extreme such as smoke in a bar. On auscultation there can be normal to decreased air
exercise, but lately she has felt this way movement. Wheezing is heard on expiration and sometimes inspiration. The duration of
continuously. She denies any other upper wheezing in expiration usually correlates with the severity of illness, so it is important to
respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary document this length (e.g., wheezes heard halfway through exhalation). In severe
symptoms and says she has no chest pain. asthma, wheezes may not be heard because of the lack of air movement. Paradoxically,
Her past medical history is significant only these clients may have more wheezes after treatment, which actually indicates an
for seasonal allergies, for which she takes a improvement in condition. Peak flow measurements help to discern this. (less)
nasal steroid spray; she takes no other Reference: Chapter 19: Assessing Thorax and Lungs, p. 385.
medications. She has had no surgeries. Her
mother has allergies and eczema; her father
has high blood pressure. She is an only child.
She denies smoking and illegal drug use but
drinks three to four alcoholic beverages per
weekend. She is a junior in finance at a local
university and has recently started a job as a
bartender in town. On examination she is in
no acute distress. Temperature is 98.6, blood
pressure is 120/80, pulse is 80, and
respirations are 20. Head, eyes, ears, nose,
and throat examinations are essentially
normal. Inspection of her anterior and
posterior chest shows no abnormalities. On
auscultation of her chest, there is decreased
air movement and a high-pitched whistling
on expiration in all lobes. Percussion reveals
resonant lungs. Which disorder of the thorax
or lung does this presentation best
describe?
a) Spontaneous pneumothorax
b) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)
c) Asthma
d) Pneumonia
When percussing the anterior chest for tone, Correct response: Resonance
a nurse should anticipate what tone over the Explanation:
majority of the lung fields? Normal lung tissue elicits a resonance tone when percussed. Hyperresonance is
elicited in cases of trapped air such as in emphysema or pneumothorax. Dullness may
a) Resonance characterize areas of increased density such as consolidation, pleural effusion, or
b) Tympany tumor. Tympany is elicited over air filled spaces such as puffed out check or stomach
c) Hyperresonance bubble. (less)
d) Dullness Reference: Chapter 19: Assessing Thorax and Lungs, p. 387.
2/7
