Which medical term describes a coarse sound heard in the airways due to mucus?

• A. Rhonchi
• B. Clear Lung Sounds
• C. Asthma
• D. Pneumonia

Answer: (A)

Coarse sounds heard in the airways due to mucus are called rhonchi. They have a snoring, rumbling quality and are usually heard with a stethoscope, often more noticeable during expiration. These sounds arise when secretions block larger airways, creating turbulent airflow. They can often be cleared or reduced after coughing or suctioning. This is different from wheezes, which are high-pitched musical sounds from narrowed airways seen in conditions like asthma. Pneumonia commonly presents with crackles (rales) rather than rhonchi, and “clear lung sounds” would indicate no abnormal airway noises. So the term that best describes a coarse, mucus-related airway sound is rhonchi.