The word "vesicular resonance" is a medical term used to describe a lung sound that resembles bubbles popping. It is spelled "ve-sik-yuh-ler re-son-ance" in IPA phonetic transcription. The "v" in "vesicular" is pronounced like a "v" in "victory." The "s" in "vesicular" is pronounced like an "s" in "snake." The "u" in "resonance" is pronounced like an "oo" in "pool," and the final "e" is silent. Understanding the phonetic transcription can help with proper pronunciation and spelling of this medical term.
Vesicular resonance refers to a specific type of sound detected during percussion of the chest in a medical examination called auscultation. It is a normal finding that is characteristic of the healthy lung tissue.
The term "vesicular" in this context originates from the Latin word "vesicula," which means "small bladder." It describes the small air sacs called alveoli within the lungs, where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
When a healthcare professional performs percussion by tapping on the chest wall, normal lungs produce a soft, low-pitched sound known as vesicular resonance. This sound resembles a gentle breeze rustling through leaves or air escaping from a small opening. It is typically heard during inspiration and lasts throughout the entire inspiratory phase.
Vesicular resonance is a result of the air-filled alveoli and bronchioles within the lungs vibrating in response to airflow. This phenomenon indicates proper functioning of the lungs and proper transmission of air from larger air passages into the smaller alveoli.
Finding intact vesicular resonance in all areas of the lungs is an important component of a thorough respiratory assessment. Any deviations from the expected vesicular resonance patterns, such as decreased or absent sounds, may indicate underlying lung conditions, such as consolidation, fluid accumulation, or obstruction. Therefore, monitoring vesicular resonance is crucial in diagnosing and managing various respiratory diseases.
The sound obtained on percussing over the normal lungs.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "vesicular" comes from the Latin word "vesicula", meaning "small bladder" or "little bag", which ultimately derived from "vesica", meaning "bladder" or "cyst". "Resonance" comes from the Latin word "resonantia", which means "echo" or "reverberation" and ultimately derives from "resonare", meaning "to resound" or "to echo". Therefore, the etymology of the word "vesicular resonance" suggests that it is a term combining the idea of a small bladder or bag with the concept of echoing or reverberating sounds.