What is the medical term for the constricted sounds heard during breaths that indicate airway blockage?

• A. Wheezing
• B. Rhonchi
• C. Stridor
• D. Tachypnea

Answer: (B)

The medical term that describes the constricted sounds heard during breaths, indicating airway blockage, is rhonchi. Rhonchi are characterized by a low-pitched, snore-like quality, typically associated with obstructions or secretions in the larger airways, often heard in conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia.

This sound differs from wheezing, which is a high-pitched sound resulting from narrowed airways and is more commonly associated with asthma or allergic reactions. Stridor, on the other hand, is a high-pitched, wheezing sound heard primarily during inhalation and usually signals an upper airway obstruction, such as in croup or anaphylaxis. Tachypnea refers to an increased respiratory rate and does not describe a specific sound associated with breathing.