Essential Lung Sounds

Bronchovesicular

Bronchovesicular are auscultated in the posterior chest between the scapula. These are normal sounds in the mid-chest area or in the posterior chest between the scapula. Inspiration to expiration periods are equal with bronchovesicular lung sounds. They reflect a mixture of the pitch of the bronchial breath sounds heard near the trachea and the alveoli with the vesicular sound. They have an I:E ratio of 1:1.

Listen

Visualize

Observe

These are abnormal in the lung periphery and may indicate an early infiltrate or partial atelectasis.

Authored by Diane Wrigley, PA. Medically reviewed by Dr. Barbara Erickson, PhD, RN, CCRN.