Expected Respiratory Assessment Findings

Hello! Let's solve this health assessment question together. We need to identify which of the following are expected, or normal, respiratory assessment findings.

This is a select all that apply question, so we must evaluate each option independently to see if it represents a healthy, expected state for a patient.

First, let's look at asymmetric chest expansion. In a healthy adult, the chest should move symmetrically on inspiration. Asymmetry can indicate conditions like a collapsed lung or pneumonia. So, this is an abnormal finding.

Next, let's consider adventitious breath sounds. This is the clinical term for extra, abnormal sounds like wheezing or crackles. Finding no adventitious sounds means the lungs are clear, which is exactly what we expect in a healthy patient.

Third, we have crackles in all lobes. Crackles are abnormal clicking or rattling sounds that often suggest fluid in the lungs, such as in heart failure or bronchitis. This is definitely not an expected finding.