Where are bronchovesicular breath sounds heard compared to bronchial breath sounds?

• A. Bronchovesicular sounds are heard over the manubrium and upper intrascapular regions, while bronchial sounds are only over the trachea.
• B. Bronchovesicular sounds are over the abdomen; bronchial at the base of the lungs.
• C. Bronchial sounds are heard over the lungs; bronchovesicular in the spine.
• D. Bronchovesicular over trachea; bronchial over chest walls.

Answer: (A)

Breath sounds vary by where the airways are located. Bronchial sounds come from air moving through the trachea and are loud, high-pitched, with a distinct expiratory phase longer than inspiration, and they’re normally heard over the trachea. Bronchovesicular sounds come from air moving through the larger bronchi close to the mediastinum and are of moderate intensity with equal inspiration and expiration; they’re heard in the central chest and upper back—specifically over the manubrium and the upper intrascapular regions.

So the best description is that bronchovesicular sounds are heard over the manubrium and upper intrascapular areas, while bronchial sounds are heard over the trachea. The other locations described don’t match where these two types of sounds are normally heard.