A nurse inspects the thorax of an older adult patient who has chronic lung disease.An expected finding would be a(n):

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In adults,a barrel-shaped chest (AP diameter = transverse)characterizes chronic lung disease.Normally the chest is symmetrical,with the anteroposterior diameter one third to one half the size of the transverse diameter.Infants have an almost round shape with a 1:1 ratio between the AP and transverse diameters.In addition,a more rounded chest is associated with older age.

A Nurse Inspects the Thorax of an Older Adult Patient