Where are vesicular breath sounds heard?

• A. Heard in the trachea; inspiration is quieter than expiration.
• B. Not audible in healthy adults
• C. In peripheral lung fields; inspiration is louder than expiration.
• D. Heard in the upper sternum; inspiration is equal to expiration.

Answer: (C)

Vesicular breath sounds are the normal sounds heard over the peripheral lung fields. They arise from air moving through the small airways and alveoli as you inhale. In healthy lungs, the inspiratory phase is the dominant part of the breath sound—longer and typically more noticeable—while the expiratory phase is shorter and softer. Because these sounds come from the outer parts of the lungs rather than the central airways, they aren’t heard best over the trachea or in the upper chest. So, the correct description is that vesicular sounds are heard in the peripheral lung fields with the inspiratory portion being the more prominent part of the breath.