Which statement about bronchial breath sounds is correct?

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

Answer: (B)

Bronchial breath sounds are loud, high-pitched, and tubular in quality, and they are normally heard over the trachea and main bronchi. A defining feature is that the expiratory phase is longer and louder than the inspiratory phase. In healthy individuals, these sounds should be heard over the trachea but not over peripheral lung tissue. Therefore, the statement that bronchial sounds are heard in the trachea and that inspiration is quieter than expiration best captures their distinctive location and timing. The other descriptions mix in the periphery, imply equal timing, or claim they’re not audible in healthy lungs, which does not fit how bronchial sounds present.