A 34-year-old man is being seen for complaints of dull pain between the shoulder blades that is more intense with deep breathing and coughing. Upon auscultation of the chest, you suspect that you will hear

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This patient is describing the bronchi as the source of the pain; the trachea divides at T4-5, between the shoulder blades. The adventitious bronchial sound expected is rhonchi. Wheezing might be expected if the patient had productive coughing or dyspnea; a pleural friction rub usually causes sudden stabbing pain over the pleuritic site. Crepitus can be both palpated and heard; it indicates air in the subcutaneous tissue and is usually found anteriorly and toward the axilla.

A 34-Year-Old Man Is Being Seen for Complaints of Dull