NUR 505 Module 1 - 8 Advanced Health Assessment of the Chest and Lungs
2026 Update complete QUESTION VERIFIED ANSWER RATIONALED
(GUARANTEED PASS)
Question 1
Which of the following is the primary muscle of inspiration?
A. External intercostals
B. Diaphragm
C. Sternocleidomastoid
D. Abdominal muscles
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: The diaphragm is the primary muscle of inspiration. When it
contracts, it flattens, increasing thoracic volume and decreasing intra-
thoracic pressure, drawing air into the lungs.
Question 2
A nurse auscultates breath sounds that are soft, low-pitched, and heard
over most of the peripheral lung fields. Inspiration is longer than
expiration. These are:
A. Vesicular breath sounds
B. Bronchovesicular breath sounds
C. Bronchial breath sounds
D. Tubular breath sounds
,VERIFIED ANSWER: A
Rationale: Vesicular breath sounds are normal over peripheral lung
fields. They are soft, low-pitched, and have a longer inspiratory phase.
Question 3
Which of the following breath sounds is normally heard over the
manubrium (sternal angle)?
A. Vesicular
B. Bronchovesicular
C. Bronchial
D. Tracheal
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Bronchovesicular breath sounds are normally heard over the
major bronchi, such as the 1st and 2nd intercostal spaces anteriorly and
between the scapulae posteriorly.
Question 4
A patient with pneumonia has increased vocal resonance. The nurse hears
the spoken “99” as louder and clearer over the affected area. This is
known as:
A. Egophony
B. Bronchophony
,C. Whispered pectoriloquy
D. Tactile fremitus
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Bronchophony is an increase in the loudness and clarity of
spoken words when auscultating the chest, indicating lung consolidation.
Question 5
The nurse hears a high-pitched, monophonic, musical sound primarily
during inspiration. This finding is most consistent with:
A. Wheezing
B. Stridor
C. Crackles
D. Rhonchi
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Stridor is a high-pitched, inspiratory sound caused by upper
airway obstruction (e.g., croup, foreign body). It is a medical emergency.
Question 6
A patient with heart failure presents with fine, high-pitched crackles at
the end of inspiration. These crackles are best described as:
A. Coarse crackles
B. Fine crackles
, C. Rhonchi
D. Pleural friction rub
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Fine crackles are high-pitched, discrete, popping sounds heard
at the end of inspiration, often associated with interstitial lung disease or
pulmonary edema.
Question 7
The nurse reassesses a patient’s chest and notes a dull note over the left
lower lobe. This finding suggests:
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pleural effusion or consolidation
C. Normal lung
D. COPD
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Dullness on percussion indicates increased tissue density,
such as fluid (pleural effusion) or solid tissue (consolidation, tumor).
Question 8
A patient with COPD has a barrel-shaped chest and hyperresonance on
percussion. Hyperresonance indicates:
A. Increased air content
2026 Update complete QUESTION VERIFIED ANSWER RATIONALED
(GUARANTEED PASS)
Question 1
Which of the following is the primary muscle of inspiration?
A. External intercostals
B. Diaphragm
C. Sternocleidomastoid
D. Abdominal muscles
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: The diaphragm is the primary muscle of inspiration. When it
contracts, it flattens, increasing thoracic volume and decreasing intra-
thoracic pressure, drawing air into the lungs.
Question 2
A nurse auscultates breath sounds that are soft, low-pitched, and heard
over most of the peripheral lung fields. Inspiration is longer than
expiration. These are:
A. Vesicular breath sounds
B. Bronchovesicular breath sounds
C. Bronchial breath sounds
D. Tubular breath sounds
,VERIFIED ANSWER: A
Rationale: Vesicular breath sounds are normal over peripheral lung
fields. They are soft, low-pitched, and have a longer inspiratory phase.
Question 3
Which of the following breath sounds is normally heard over the
manubrium (sternal angle)?
A. Vesicular
B. Bronchovesicular
C. Bronchial
D. Tracheal
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Bronchovesicular breath sounds are normally heard over the
major bronchi, such as the 1st and 2nd intercostal spaces anteriorly and
between the scapulae posteriorly.
Question 4
A patient with pneumonia has increased vocal resonance. The nurse hears
the spoken “99” as louder and clearer over the affected area. This is
known as:
A. Egophony
B. Bronchophony
,C. Whispered pectoriloquy
D. Tactile fremitus
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Bronchophony is an increase in the loudness and clarity of
spoken words when auscultating the chest, indicating lung consolidation.
Question 5
The nurse hears a high-pitched, monophonic, musical sound primarily
during inspiration. This finding is most consistent with:
A. Wheezing
B. Stridor
C. Crackles
D. Rhonchi
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Stridor is a high-pitched, inspiratory sound caused by upper
airway obstruction (e.g., croup, foreign body). It is a medical emergency.
Question 6
A patient with heart failure presents with fine, high-pitched crackles at
the end of inspiration. These crackles are best described as:
A. Coarse crackles
B. Fine crackles
, C. Rhonchi
D. Pleural friction rub
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Fine crackles are high-pitched, discrete, popping sounds heard
at the end of inspiration, often associated with interstitial lung disease or
pulmonary edema.
Question 7
The nurse reassesses a patient’s chest and notes a dull note over the left
lower lobe. This finding suggests:
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pleural effusion or consolidation
C. Normal lung
D. COPD
VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Dullness on percussion indicates increased tissue density,
such as fluid (pleural effusion) or solid tissue (consolidation, tumor).
Question 8
A patient with COPD has a barrel-shaped chest and hyperresonance on
percussion. Hyperresonance indicates:
A. Increased air content
